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[Stockbild] Land formation. Aerial photograph of the mudflats and salt marshes on the coast of Greetsiel, Germany. Salt marshes form on coastal mudflats such as estuaries. As salt resistant plants colonise (lower right) the land level rises. This rise is due to plants trapping fine mud and silt particles, as this process continues other plant species then colonise the newly formed land. (KEYSTONE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/BERNHARD EDMAIER) === ===