Page 98 - (DK) Ocean - The Definitive Visual Guide

96 COASTS AND THE SEASHORE

ATLANTIC OCEAN NORTHEAST by the huge weight of ice sheets during ATLANTIC OCEAN NORTHEAST
the last glacial period, rises again.
Gruinard Bay In some areas, such as Scotland and Devon Ria Coast
Scandinavia, this upward rebound has
TYPE Primary coast outstripped the sea-level rise caused TYPE Primary coast
FORMATION Ice-sheet by the ice sheets melting. At Gruinard FORMATION Former river
retreat and postglacial Bay, rebound is indicated by its raised valleys drowned by
rebound beaches—flat, grassy areas behind the sea-level rise
EXTENT 8 miles (13 km) present-day beaches. Over the last EXTENT About 60 miles
11,000 years, this part of Scotland has (100 km)
LOCATION West of Ullapool, northwestern been moving upward relative to sea LOCATION Between Plymouth and Torbay,
Scotland, UK level, up to 4 in (10 cm) per century. southwestern coast of England, UK
Around Gruinard Bay in Scotland RAISED BEACH Much of the south coast of the
there is evidence of a phenomenon The green area beyond the present-day beach, English county of Devon consists
known as postglacial rebound, in well above the line of high tide, of the drowned valleys of the Dart,
which a landmass, once pushed down is the remnant of an ancient beach. Avon, Yealm, and Erme rivers, and
the Salcombe–Kingsbridge Estuary.
The inlets, also known as rias, are
separated by rugged cliffs and
headlands. This beautiful coastal area
was formed by the partial flooding
of valleys, through which small rivers
once flowed, as a result of global
sea-level rise since the last ice age.
The rise in sea level has been
accentuated by the fact that the SALCOMBE–KINGSBRIDGE ESTUARY
southern parts of the British Isles The highly scenic Salcombe Estuary is the
have been tipping downwards since largest of the five rias on the south Devon
the last glacial maximum at a rate coast. Its protected waters provide ideal
of up to 3 in (7 cm) per century. conditions for sailing.

Nez. The chalk from which the in the land-bridge. It eroded rapidly,
ATLANTIC OCEAN NORTHEAST ATLANTIC OCEAN NORTHEAST
cliffs are composed was formed causing flooding of the area that now
White Cliffs between 100 million and 70 million forms the English Channel. Cape Creus
years ago, when a large part of what Today, the cliffs at Dover continue
of Dover is now northwestern Europe was to be eroded at an average rate of an TYPE Primary coast
underwater. The shells of tiny inch or two per year. Occasionally a FORMATION Land-eroded
TYPE Secondary coast
planktonic organisms that inhabited large chunk detaches from the cliff rocky coastline of schists
FORMATION Marine those seas gradually accumulated on edge and falls to the ground. Many and other metamorphic
erosion of a large mass and igneous rocks
of ancient chalk the sea floor and became compressed marine fossils have been discovered
into a layer of chalk that was several in the cliffs, ranging from sharks’ EXTENT 6 miles (10 km)
EXTENT 11 miles (17 km)
hundred yards thick. Subsequently, teeth to sponges and corals. LOCATION Northeast of Girona, northeastern
as the sea level fell during successive Catalonia, Spain
LOCATION Southeastern coast of England, to east
and west of Dover, UK ice ages, this mass of chalk lay above HIGH CHALK CLIFFS
the sea, and it later formed a land Up to 330 ft (100 m) high, these
One of England’s most famous natural bridge between present-day England cliffs owe their remarkable
landmarks, the White Cliffs of Dover and France. However, about 8,500 appearance to the almost
run along the northwestern side of years ago, the buildup of a large pure chalk of which they
the Strait of Dover, the narrowest part lake in an area now occupied by the are composed.
of the English Channel. They are southern North Sea caused a breach
complemented on the French side of
the Strait by similar cliffs at Cap Blanc

AN EASTERLY POINT OF THE CAPE

Cape Creus marks the point where
OCEAN ENVIRONMENTS entire Mediterranean region, with
the mountains of the Pyrenees meet
the Mediterranean Sea. It has one
of the most rugged coastlines in the
cliffs made of extremely rough-
textured rocks, interspersed by small
coves. Designated as a natural park in
1998, Cape Creus also boasts a varied
underwater marine life, and is rich in
invertebrate animals such as sponges,
anemones, fan worms, and red corals.
As such, it is a popular diving location.
The landscape is said to have inspired
the Spanish surrealist artist Salvador
Dali (1904–1989), and it features in
many of his paintings, including The
Persistence of Memory.