What characterizes brackish water?

Brackish water is defined as a mixture of fresh and salt water, typically found in environments like estuaries where freshwater from rivers meets and mixes with saltwater from the ocean. This unique salinity level is what distinguishes brackish water from purely freshwater or saline environments.

The mixing of these two types of water creates a gradient of salinity that can support a diverse range of organisms that may not thrive in either purely freshwater or saltwater conditions alone. As such, environments where brackish water is found often host unique ecosystems that are sensitive to changes in both salinity and water quality.