A forest under water Sabine Dietz Piper Project October 1998 stuaries can be encountered wherever a river meets the sea. They are places where the freshwater of the river mingles with the saltwater of the ocean, creating unique conditions, and a very special place for a great number of living creatures. On the eastern coastline of New Brunswick estuaries are sheltered areas, particularly where barrier beaches protect them from the ravages of storms. This is where eelgrass is particularly abundant. The eastern coastline of New Brunswick is more peaceful in terms of obvious ocean activity than the Bay of Fundy.
Scientists call it a low energy environment.
In contrast, the Bay of Fundy is a high energy environment. Beaches on the Eastern shore are mainly gentle, sandy, and extensive. They are still very dynamic and this is clear to anybody who has visited a beach before and after a storm. Sometimes the beach is unrecognizable after the storm. When you spend some time along the coast, and start exploring some of its estuaries, you'll discover that these places are teeming with life.