What characterizes an artesian well?

An artesian well is characterized by the water level standing above the ground surface due to the pressure within the aquifer from which it draws water. This occurs because the well taps into a confined aquifer, where the water is trapped between layers of impermeable rock or clay. The pressure causes the water to rise in the well casing, sometimes even flowing freely without the need for pumping.

In contrast, a well that requires pumping is typically associated with an unconfined aquifer, where the water level does not rise above the ground surface due to a lack of pressure. Additionally, while artesian wells can be found in various geographical locations, they are not restricted solely to coastal areas, which means that the idea of their exclusive location is misleading. Therefore, the defining feature of an artesian well being its ability to have water levels rise above the surface is what makes this answer correct.