Estuaries are coastal areas where sea water mixes with fresh water, primarily from rivers.
Nutrients carried downstream are trapped in the estuary, creating fertile ground for the growth of a wide variety of diverse plant life. This, in turn, supports the habitats of many different animals. Because estuaries are protected from the wave action of the open sea, they are also perfect nursery grounds for a large variety of important shell and fin fish. North Carolina has more square miles of estuarine waters than any state on the east coast. Our estuaries vary considerably - from broad, shallow sounds like the Albemarle and the Pamlico, to narrow bodies of water, such as the Currituck Sound.