Is a salt marsh an estuary?

A salt marsh is not an estuary, but it is often found within estuarine environments. Estuaries are coastal areas where freshwater from rivers meets and mixes with saltwater from the ocean, creating a unique environment. Salt marshes, on the other hand, are coastal wetlands that are inundated with saltwater and characterized by salt-tolerant vegetation, often found along the edges of estuaries. They play a crucial role in providing habitat, filtering pollutants, and protecting shorelines.