|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries: |
Research categories | Follow us on Twitter |
Research categories
View all topics in the newsView all reference sources at Encyclopedia.com |
|||
lagoon
lagoon, a shallow area of water separated from the open sea by a coral reef or sandbank. Lagoons are a regular inshore feature of fringing coral reefs and support a rich variety of marine plants and animals, and are important nursery grounds for the young fry of many fishes. The coastal lagoons of Baja California in Mexico are important calving areas for Gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus). Along coastlines exposed to the open sea, the lagoons perform a key role in absorbing much of the wave energy that hits the shore during tropical storms. In tropical lagoons, where exchanges of water with the open sea are limited, the water heats up rapidly and the high evaporation results in the water becoming very salty, so lagoons are often exploited as a source of sea salt. Their productive waters, high in salinity, attract large numbers of seabirds, particularly flamingos (Phoenicopterus spp.), whose bills are especially adapted for filtering the abundant fine algae from the water. Around Britain, lagoons are uncommon coastal features, and almost without exception they are considered important conservation sites because of the rarity of the animals and plants that inhabit them; they are threatened by eutrophication, an important environmental issue, and coastal developments. For illus. see atoll.
M. V. Angel |
|
|
Cite this article
"lagoon." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "lagoon." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-lagoon.html "lagoon." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-lagoon.html |
|
lagoon
la·goon / ləˈgoōn/ • n. a stretch of salt water separated from the sea by a low sandbank or coral reef. ∎ the enclosed water of an atoll. ∎ a small freshwater lake near a larger lake or river. ∎ an artificial pool for the treatment of effluent or to accommodate surface water that overflows drains during heavy rain. DERIVATIVES: la·goon·al / -ˈgoōnl/ adj. |
|
|
Cite this article
"lagoon." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "lagoon." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-lagoon.html "lagoon." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-lagoon.html |
|
lagoon
lagoon A coastal body of shallow water, characterized by a restricted connection with the sea. The water body is retained behind a reef or islands.
|
|
|
Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "lagoon." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "lagoon." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-lagoon.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "lagoon." A Dictionary of Ecology. 2004. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O14-lagoon.html |
|
lagoon
lagoon Coastal body of shallow water, characterized by a restricted connection with the sea. The water body is retained behind a reef or islands.
|
|
|
Cite this article
AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "lagoon." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "lagoon." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-lagoon.html AILSA ALLABY and MICHAEL ALLABY. "lagoon." A Dictionary of Earth Sciences. 1999. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O13-lagoon.html |
|
lagoon
lagoon area of salt water separated from the sea. XVII. — It., Sp. laguna (partly through F. lagune) :- L. lacūna pool (see LACUNA).
|
|
|
Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "lagoon." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "lagoon." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-lagoon.html T. F. HOAD. "lagoon." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-lagoon.html |
|
lagoon
lagoon Shallow stretch of seawater protected from waves and tides by a strip of land or coral.
|
|
|
Cite this article
"lagoon." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "lagoon." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-lagoon.html "lagoon." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-lagoon.html |
|
lagoon
lagoon •afternoon, attune, autoimmune, baboon, balloon, bassoon, bestrewn, boon, Boone, bridoon, buffoon, Cameroon, Cancún, cardoon, cartoon, Changchun, cocoon, commune, croon, doubloon, dragoon, dune, festoon, galloon, goon, harpoon, hoon, immune, importune, impugn, Irgun, jejune, June, Kowloon, lagoon, lampoon, loon, macaroon, maroon, monsoon, moon, Muldoon, noon, oppugn, picayune, platoon, poltroon, pontoon, poon, prune, puccoon, raccoon, Rangoon, ratoon, rigadoon, rune, saloon, Saskatoon, Sassoon, Scone, soon, spittoon, spoon, swoon, Troon, tune, tycoon, typhoon, Walloon
•fortune, misfortune
•vodun • veldskoen • honeymoon
•forenoon • tablespoon • teaspoon
•soupspoon • dessertspoon • Neptune
•tribune • triune • opportune
|
|
|
Cite this article
"lagoon." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "lagoon." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-lagoon.html "lagoon." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-lagoon.html |
|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries:
HighBeam™ Research, Inc. © Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
The Encyclopedia.com advertising network includes:
