Publisher's Synopsis
The word "estuary" (from the Latin aestus - tide or whirlpool) refers to a river outlet or a bay, characterised by salinities intermediate between the values observed for seawater and freshwater, with the action of the tides constituting an important physical regulator, and by the presence of various species adapted to the ecological conditions characteristic of this ecosystem. They are bodies of water connected to the ocean that have irregular topographical features and are generally located perpendicular to the coastal zone. Despite the importance of these systems, there is no single definition that fits all the world's estuaries, since each estuary has its own unique characteristics. São Marcos Bay is home to the São Luís Island Port Area, which includes Vale SA's Ponta da Madeira Port Terminal (TPPM), the Port of Itaqui, owned by EMAP - Empresa Maranhense de Administração Portuária, the Port of ALUMAR - Consorcio de Alumínio do Maranhão and the Port of Ponta da Espera. The Maranhão Port Area is the second largest port complex in Latin America and one of the largest in the world in terms of cargo handling.
