Why do rivers have deltas or estuaries?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: Sediment vs tidal strength
Sediment vs tidal strength ✓ — Correct! Deltas form when rivers deposit sediment faster than waves/tides can remove it—building new land (Nile, Mississippi). Estuaries form when tides/waves are strong, preventing sediment accumulation—creating drowned river valleys (Chesapeake Bay). It's a balance: sediment supply vs erosional forces!
Ocean salinity affects deposition — Wrong. Salinity doesn't determine the landform. Delta vs estuary depends on whether sediment deposition or tidal/wave erosion dominates.
Age of river matters — Wrong. Age doesn't determine type. The balance between sediment deposition rate and tidal/wave erosion strength determines delta vs estuary formation.