inlet

An inlet is a narrow coastal waterway that connects a larger body of water—typically the sea—with a bay, lagoon, estuary, or other coastal water body, and is bordered by land on at least two sides. Inlets commonly occur along coastlines with barrier islands or spits and serve as conduits for tidal exchange and sediment transport.

Formation and evolution of inlets are driven by erosion, breaching of barrier beaches or spits, and modifications by tidal currents. They are dynamic features that can migrate in position, widen, or shoal over time as waves, currents, and sediment supply change. Storm events can open new inlets or close existing ones, sometimes permanently altering coastlines.

Inlets are usually narrow and shallow and exhibit strong tidal flows. They may be open to the sea or intermittently closed by accumulated sediment. Some are designated tidal inlets, characterized by recurrent opening and closing with the tides, while others are more continuously navigable channels. To maintain maritime access, dredging or other sediment management may be employed.

Ecologically, inlets facilitate the exchange of water between the sea and adjacent lagoons, bays, or marshes, influencing salinity, nutrients, and habitat conditions. They support fisheries and bird populations but are prone to sedimentation, channel migration, and changes from storms or sea-level rise. The surrounding wetlands and shorelines rely on tidal flushing provided by the inlet for ecological health.

Inlets are important for navigation, fishing, tourism, and coastal engineering, and they are frequently subject to management aimed at balancing erosion control, sediment dynamics, and ecological protection.