2
36
2. Relief
4.2. Coastal relief
The main landforms on the coast are
cliffs
or
beaches
. The different coastline
shapes are
capes
,
gulfs
,
bays
and
coves
.
Islands
and
archipelagos
are found off
the coast.
Some coastal landforms are affected by the action of rivers that flow into the sea,
depositing materials they have transported along their course. The action of rivers on
the coast forms
deltas
,
rias
,
estuaries
,
lagoons
and
marshes
.
The
coast
is the
meeting point
of the
continents
and the
seas
and
oceans
. It is
shaped
by the
agents
of both spaces.
Archipelago:
a group of islands.
Beach:
accumulation of sand and
gravel on low areas of the coast.
Cape:
a large area of
the coast that extends
into the sea.
Peninsula:
a piece of
land surrounded by
water, except for the
isthmus that connects
it to the mainland.
Lagoon:
a shallow body
of water separated from
the coast by sand or coral.
Ria:
a river valley invaded by the sea.
Delta:
a deposit of materials
transported by the river to the
river mouth.
Gulf
,
bay and cove:
a body of water indents in
the coastline. The name varies according to its size.
Cliff:
a vertical wall at the edge
of the land.
Estuary:
where the river flows into the sea at
the river mouth and fresh water mixes with salt
water.
Marshes:
low wet land that is
flooded by the tides.
Cliffs at the As Catedrais beach, Lugo,
Spain
