deltakusten

Deltakusten is a coastline formed where a river carries and deposits sediment as it enters a standing body of water, producing a delta. The landward part is the delta plain, cut by a network of distributary channels, while the seaward edge often features a delta front with wetlands, lagoons, and sometimes barrier bars. The exact appearance varies with sediment supply, wave energy, tides, and subsidence.

Deltas form when sediment supply exceeds the rate at which accommodation space is created by sea-level rise. Progradation builds the delta seaward, while subsidence and compaction can cause land to sink. Waves and tides modify the delta's shoreline, eroding some parts and creating channel avulsion and new distributaries.

Deltas are commonly described as river-dominated (birdfoot deltas, such as the Mississippi), wave-dominated (such as the Nile), or tidal-dominated (such as the Ganges–Brahmaputra). Many deltas show mixed characteristics. Globally, delta coasts occur on many continents and host extensive wetlands, agriculture, and settlements.

Delta coasts support agriculture, fisheries, and urban areas but are vulnerable to subsidence, sea-level rise, and storms. Sediment reduction from upstream dams, groundwater extraction, and coastal engineering can alter delta dynamics. Adaptation strategies include sediment replenishment, wetland restoration, improved flood defenses, and integrated coastal zone management.