Suistoja

Suistoja, the plural form of suisto, is a Finnish geographical term for a river delta or estuary—the landform at a river's mouth where sediment deposition occurs as the river enters a standing body of water. The term is used for both deltaic plains formed by sediment buildup and estuarine areas where freshwater mixes with seawater.

Formation occurs when a river's sediment load and discharge deposit material faster than it can be carried away by coastal currents, tides, or waves. The resulting landform often features distributaries and delta plains, while wave and tidal action can reshape the shoreline into arcuate, birdfoot, or mixed patterns.

Ecology and land use: Suistoja typically host wetlands and brackish habitats that are productive for wildlife. They function as nurseries for fish and as stopover sites for waterfowl. Because deltas accumulate sediments and can be relatively low-lying, they are sensitive to subsidence, coastal erosion, sea-level rise, and human interventions such as damming, dredging, and land reclamation.

In Finland, suistoja are part of the coastal and riverine landscape and are found at various river mouths along the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia. Their condition reflects broader environmental changes, including climate-driven sea-level trends and river management, and they are a focus of conservation and restoration efforts.