IV-46 



Bay and its tributaries make this a unique estuarine system. 

 This is a drowned river valley with numerous similar tributary 

 systems in various stages of evolution. 



South Atlantic Estuarine Region : Cape Hatteras to Fort 

 Lauderdale, Florida (about 26° North Latitude). 



The generally wide continental shelf is brushed by the warm 

 waters of the well-defined Gulf Stream. The low-lying coastal 

 plain terminates in barrier islands and marshes in which large 

 amounts of sediments are being continually deposited by moderate 

 sized rivers fed by heavy summer rainfall. Many of the urowned 

 river valley estuaries have evolved all the way to coastal 

 marshes. Tidal ranges are small to moderate, depending on 

 local conditions. 



Carribean Estuarine Region : Fort Lauderdale to Cape Romano 

 (the Florida penisula south of 26° North Latitude), plus 

 Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. 



High temperatures, heavy rainfall, and warm ocean currents along 

 practically nonexistent continental shelves result in tropical 

 estuarine environments throughout this region. Coral reefs 

 and mangrove swamps are the typical coastal features of south 

 Florida, while the islands are mountainous and are fringed with 

 coral reefs and beaches. Tidal ranges are small. 



