COASTAL LANDFORMS

Coastlines are formed by erosion (where water wears away parts of the land) and deposition (where sediment is moved into new places by water).

The incredible power of the ocean carves the coastline into all sorts of shapes, forming towering cliffs, magical caves and more… 2

When waves crash continually against a section of coast made up of both hard and soft rock, the soft rock erodes first, leaving a headland jutting into the sea.

Seawater carries rough grains of sand that wear away rock. When water finds a crack in a cliff or headland, it can eventually erode into a sea cave . This huge sea cave is filled with stalactites and stalagmites!

Neist Point on Skye, Scotland

This hidden beach in the Marietas Islands, Mexico, was once inside a huge sea cave, but the roof collapsed! 3 5

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As erosion continues, a natural arch will gradually get bigger until eventually it collapses, leaving a sea stack . Reynisdrangar basalt sea stacks in Iceland tower up to 66 metres into the air!

When a cave is part of a headland, it can erode all the way through, creating an arch shape in the rock. This is Durdle Door, a natural arch in Dorset.