Salty marsh

Low tide at blue hour reveals a muddy riverbed of fishbone shaped streams in the middle of a small, but unique part of the salt marsh located at the end of the Betanzos Estuary, near Coruna in northern Spain.

These natural formations could have been influenced by manmade fishponds that covered the area centuries ago. Until the 18th century the port of Betanzos was one of the most important fishing and trade centre of the ancient Kingdom of Galicia. But the river sediment that filled the estuary and reduced its depth was one cause, among others, for the decrease in sea traffic.

Nowadays, the lower part forms an extensive and productive territory traditionally used for shellfishing and fishing. The marshy upriver portion is popular for eco-tourism, and sailing. The estuary of Betanzos is one of the four largest salt marshes on the coast of Galicia. Currently it is the largest coastal mudflat amongst them, formed by the confluence of the Mendo and Mandeo rivers. The riverbanks are a nature reserve covering 25 kilometres upriver.

By the numbers:
TIME: 22:08
DATE: jul/15
FILE SIZE: 18MP

Illustration by: watershapesearth

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Category:

Lagoon  Marsh  

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Spain