A "creek" normally refers to a tidal water channel in
British English and in other parts of the
Anglosphere. This is the case in many countries in the
Commonwealth, such as
The Bahamas, as well as some parts of the United States (near the
Chesapeake Bay, parts of
New England, and southern Florida). In the tidal section of the
River Thames in London, the names of the rivers that flow into it all become Creeks for the lower section that is tidal; thus, for example, the
River Lea becomes
Bow Creek in its tidal section. In parts of southwest England and
Wales, the term "pill" is used, and is found in placenames such as
Huntspill. A narrow channel between islands in the
Florida Keys is known there as a creek. On the
India and
Pakistan borders, the term also applies to the salt water inlets enclosed by
mangroves. Creeks are found dispersed all along the Indian coast. A "tidal course" is the more general term for any elongated indentation or
valley in a
wetland originated by tidal processes along which water flows pumped by tidal influence. It includes a series of indentations within a wide spectrum of sizes (width, length, and depth) and with at least two levels of inundation. Subtypes are tidal rills, tidal grooves, tidal gullies, that normally do not contain water even during neap low tide, and tidal creeks and tidal channels, that have water permanently. A tidal course creates a system for its ecosystem that circulates water, sediments, organic matter, nutrient, and pollutants. A tidal course is essential to the surrounding flora and fauna because they provide protection, nutrients, a place to reproduce, and a habitat for juvenile species before they go into the ocean. == Development ==