Thames Estuary The new airport would be built on a man-made island in the estuary north of Minster-in-Sheppey There is also some discussion about the need for a Lower Thames Crossing in order to alleviate traffic congestion at Dartford. The Thames Estuary is the focal part of the 21st-century toponym, the "Thames Gateway", designated as one of the principal development areas in Southern England. The appellation Greater Thames Estuary applies to the coast and the low-lying lands bordering the estuary itself. These are characterised by the presence of mudflats, low-lying open beaches and salt marshes, namely the North Kent Marshes and the
Wouri estuary are divided by the Dibamba River and by Monaka Bay and Island. About of the mangrove forest is within the Mouanko Reserve, which extends from the south shore of the estuary to the Sanaga River mouth. The mangrove "Rhizophora racemosa", which makes up over 90% of mangroves in Cameroon, reaches a height of in the Wouri estuary. "Nypa fruticans", an exotic species imported to Nigeria from South-East Asia, has been spreading quickly, encouraged by the local people. The mangrove forests are an important source of wood for making furniture and fences, for smoking fish and for fuel. The leaves of