Cape Crusader

Sedgefield Lagoon

And now for a short lesson in geography. Sedgefield lagoon is a body of comparatively shallow salt water separated from the deeper sea by a shallow or exposed sandbank. Once a lagoon barrier has formed, finer sediments can settle out in the relatively quiet water behind the barrier, including sediments brought into the lagoon by rivers. Coastal lagoons typically have only constricted openings to the sea. As a result, water conditions in the lagoon can differ significantly from the open water of the sea in temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen and sediment load.

At the time of our visit to Rushmere the Sedgefield Lagoon was very high and the meadow below our cottage was waterlogged as a result. Carol wrote the follow message in an e-mail.

"We popped into Sedge after you left and saw that they had opened the mouth. It is always a wonderful sight to see the water wooshing out to sea. Better still was the rare sighting of two Marial Eagles circling over the estuary. Best regards to you both, Carol"

posted by Cape Cornetto @ 1:47 PM