What is the term for the place where a river meets the sea?

The term for the place where a river meets the sea is "mouth." This is a key geographical concept, as the mouth of a river is the point at which it flows into a larger body of water, such as an ocean or a sea. This location is significant for various reasons, including the ecological interactions that occur there, sediment deposition, and the formation of habitats for diverse marine life. The mouth often exhibits a mix of fresh and saltwater, leading to unique environments that support wildlife.

While terms like "estuary," "source," and "delta" are related to rivers, they describe different features. An estuary refers specifically to the area where freshwater from the river meets saltwater from the ocean, typically characterized by a range of habitats and brackish water. The source refers to the original point at which a river begins, often in highland areas, while a delta is a landform created at the mouth of a river where it deposits sediment as it enters standing water, resulting in a triangular or fan-shaped area. Each of these terms contributes to our understanding of river systems but does not define the specific location where a river meets the sea, which is accurately described as the mouth.