A tidal creek is the portion of a stream that is affected by ebb and flow of ocean tides, in the case that the subject stream discharges to an ocean, sea or strait. Thus this portion of the stream has variable salinity and electrical conductivity over the tidal cycle. Due to the temporal variability of water quality parameters within the tidally influenced zone, there are unique biota associated with tidal creeks, which biota are often specialised to such zones.

In British English (and also in many other countries in the Commonwealth), a creek is a tidal water channel. In parts of Somerset, the name Pill is given to a creek; and Pill is used in certain place names, such as Huntspill. Creeks may often dry to a muddy channel with little or no flow at low tide, but often with significant depth of water at high tide. In India the term also applies to the salt water inlets enclosed by mangroves. Creeks are found dispersed all along the Indian coast. In the Florida Keys, a creek is a narrow channel between islands.

Examples

There are hundreds of examples of tidal creeks throughout the world. A few specific ones are:

• Burn of Ayreland, Mainland, Orkney
• Americano Creek, California, USA

See also

• Estuary
• River delta

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