What is the term for the gradual increase in land area through natural soil deposits?

The term that describes the gradual increase in land area through natural soil deposits is accretion. This process occurs when soil and sediment are deposited over time by natural forces such as water flow, wind, or glacial activity, leading to the expansion of land along riverbanks, coastlines, or other areas.

Understanding accretion is essential in real estate and environmental studies, as it can impact land ownership and property boundaries. Unlike other processes, such as erosion, which involves the removal of soil, or deposition, which refers to the act of laying down material but does not specifically connote an increase in land area, accretion specifically highlights the result of those natural processes—namely, the net gain of land. Reclamation, on the other hand, typically refers to the human intervention to create new land from oceans, lakes, or riverbeds, which is distinct from the natural process described by accretion.