Editing Littoral zone (section)

==Description==
The term has no single definition. What is regarded as the full extent of the littoral zone, and the way the littoral zone is divided into subregions, varies in different contexts. For lakes, the littoral zone is the nearshore habitat where [[photosynthetically active radiation]] penetrates to the lake bottom in sufficient quantities to support photosynthesis.<ref name=Seekell2021 /> The use of the term also varies from one part of the world to another, and between different disciplines. For example, military commanders speak of the littoral in ways that are quite different from the definition used by [[marine biology|marine biologists]].

The adjacency of water gives a number of distinctive characteristics to littoral regions. The [[erosion|erosive]] power of water results in particular types of [[landform]]s, such as [[sand dune]]s, and [[estuary|estuaries]]. The natural movement of the littoral along the coast is called the [[littoral drift]]. Biologically, the ready availability of water enables a greater variety of plant and animal life, and particularly the formation of extensive [[wetlands]]. In addition, the additional local [[humidity]] due to evaporation usually creates a [[microclimate]] supporting unique types of organisms.