CHAPTER 6 . The Argentina Estuaries: A Review
129
terized by flaser, wavy and lenticular bedding. Finally, the mud flats cover the rest of
the environments. Isla et al. (1991) also divide the mud flats in two zones: an upper
zone, very flat and uniform, and a lower zone, with meandering tidal channels.
Summary
Argentina coastline has a wide variety of estuaries ranging from the widest in the world
(Rio de la Plata) to very small ones located in areas of very difficult access. Due to the
different climates that characterize the argentine land the estuaries show different
discharges, being the Rio de la Plata and Negro River the largest ones. Tidal amplitudes also vary significantly, being microtidal in the Rio de la Plata to the Quequen
Salado, mesotidal in the coast between Bahia Blanca Estuary to Negro River, and
macrotidal along the rest of the Patagonia estuaries. Tides and winds are the most
important processes that determine the circulation and dynamics of the estuaries. Most
estuaries are coastal plain ones, however the Rio de la Plata and Colorado Rivers
present deltas, only four coastal lagoons are found and few rias at the south of the
country.
Acknowledgements
Research dealing to this article were partly supported by Consejo Nacional de
Investigaciones Cientfficas y Tecnicas (CONICET) de la Republica Argentina,
Universidad Nacional del Sur, National Geographic Society, and European Economic
Community. The authors thank Lic. Walter D. Melo for drawing part of the figures.
References
Aliotta S (1983) Estudio sedimentologico y de deriva litoral entre la desembocadura del Rio Negro y
playa Bonita (provincia de Rio Negro). MSc thesis, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Argentina
Alvarez )A, Alvarez SM, Rios FF, Ferrante A (1983) General characteristics of the Mar Chiquita Lagoon (Argentina) and its coastal management aspects. Instituto para la Investigacion de los
Problemas del Mar, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Argentina, Tech Note
Anger K, Spivak E, Bas C, Ismael D, Luppi T (1994) Hatching rhythms and dispersion of decapod crustacean larvae in a brackish lagoon in Argentina. Helgolander meeresunters 48:445-466
Balay MA (1956) Determination of mean sea level of Argentine Sea influences of the sea not caused
by the tides. Inter Hydrographic Rev 33:31-65
Balay MA (1958) Causas y periodicidad de las grandes crecidas en el Rio de la Plata, Servicio de
Hidrografia Naval, Tech Note H-6u
Balay MA (1961) El Rio de la Plata entre la atmosfera y el mar. Servicio de Hidrografia Naval, Tech
Note H-621
Barria de Cao MS (1986) Contribucion al conocimiento de Tintinnina (Protozoa, Cliophora) de la zona
de Bahia Blanca, II, Argentina. Boletin Instituto Espanol de Oceanografia 3=143-150
Barria de Cao MS (1992) Abundance and species composition of Tintinnina (Ciliophora) in Bahia
Blanca Estuary, Argentina. Estuar Coastal Shelf Sci 34:295-303
Boltovskoy E, Boltovskoy A (1968) Foraminiferos y tecamebas de la parte inferior del Rio Quequen
Grande. Hidrobiologia II:127-164
Boschi EE (1988) El ecosistema estuarial del Rio de la Plata (Argentina y Uruguay). An Inst Cienc del
Mar y Limnol, Univ Nal Auton Mexico 15:159-182
Castaing PA, Guilcher A (1995) Geomorphology and sedimentology of rias. In: Perillo GME (ed)
Geomorphology and sedimentology of estuaries. Elsevier, Amsterdam pp 69-107
Codignotto )0, Weiler NE (1980) Evolucion morfodimimica del sector costero comprendido entre
Punta Laberinto e isla Olga, provincia de Buenos Aires. Proc Simposio Problemas Geologicos del
Litoral Atlantico Bonaerenses, Mar del Plata, pp 35-45
129
terized by flaser, wavy and lenticular bedding. Finally, the mud flats cover the rest of
the environments. Isla et al. (1991) also divide the mud flats in two zones: an upper
zone, very flat and uniform, and a lower zone, with meandering tidal channels.
Summary
Argentina coastline has a wide variety of estuaries ranging from the widest in the world
(Rio de la Plata) to very small ones located in areas of very difficult access. Due to the
different climates that characterize the argentine land the estuaries show different
discharges, being the Rio de la Plata and Negro River the largest ones. Tidal amplitudes also vary significantly, being microtidal in the Rio de la Plata to the Quequen
Salado, mesotidal in the coast between Bahia Blanca Estuary to Negro River, and
macrotidal along the rest of the Patagonia estuaries. Tides and winds are the most
important processes that determine the circulation and dynamics of the estuaries. Most
estuaries are coastal plain ones, however the Rio de la Plata and Colorado Rivers
present deltas, only four coastal lagoons are found and few rias at the south of the
country.
Acknowledgements
Research dealing to this article were partly supported by Consejo Nacional de
Investigaciones Cientfficas y Tecnicas (CONICET) de la Republica Argentina,
Universidad Nacional del Sur, National Geographic Society, and European Economic
Community. The authors thank Lic. Walter D. Melo for drawing part of the figures.
References
Aliotta S (1983) Estudio sedimentologico y de deriva litoral entre la desembocadura del Rio Negro y
playa Bonita (provincia de Rio Negro). MSc thesis, Universidad Nacional del Sur, Argentina
Alvarez )A, Alvarez SM, Rios FF, Ferrante A (1983) General characteristics of the Mar Chiquita Lagoon (Argentina) and its coastal management aspects. Instituto para la Investigacion de los
Problemas del Mar, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Argentina, Tech Note
Anger K, Spivak E, Bas C, Ismael D, Luppi T (1994) Hatching rhythms and dispersion of decapod crustacean larvae in a brackish lagoon in Argentina. Helgolander meeresunters 48:445-466
Balay MA (1956) Determination of mean sea level of Argentine Sea influences of the sea not caused
by the tides. Inter Hydrographic Rev 33:31-65
Balay MA (1958) Causas y periodicidad de las grandes crecidas en el Rio de la Plata, Servicio de
Hidrografia Naval, Tech Note H-6u
Balay MA (1961) El Rio de la Plata entre la atmosfera y el mar. Servicio de Hidrografia Naval, Tech
Note H-621
Barria de Cao MS (1986) Contribucion al conocimiento de Tintinnina (Protozoa, Cliophora) de la zona
de Bahia Blanca, II, Argentina. Boletin Instituto Espanol de Oceanografia 3=143-150
Barria de Cao MS (1992) Abundance and species composition of Tintinnina (Ciliophora) in Bahia
Blanca Estuary, Argentina. Estuar Coastal Shelf Sci 34:295-303
Boltovskoy E, Boltovskoy A (1968) Foraminiferos y tecamebas de la parte inferior del Rio Quequen
Grande. Hidrobiologia II:127-164
Boschi EE (1988) El ecosistema estuarial del Rio de la Plata (Argentina y Uruguay). An Inst Cienc del
Mar y Limnol, Univ Nal Auton Mexico 15:159-182
Castaing PA, Guilcher A (1995) Geomorphology and sedimentology of rias. In: Perillo GME (ed)
Geomorphology and sedimentology of estuaries. Elsevier, Amsterdam pp 69-107
Codignotto )0, Weiler NE (1980) Evolucion morfodimimica del sector costero comprendido entre
Punta Laberinto e isla Olga, provincia de Buenos Aires. Proc Simposio Problemas Geologicos del
Litoral Atlantico Bonaerenses, Mar del Plata, pp 35-45