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g.. in z a m A ly e m o s e w A 0 1
N A L L A T S A O C
the of the ocean carves er w po le ib ed cr in e Th s of shapes, forming coastline into all sort ical caves and more… towering cliffs, mag
water by erosion (where Coastlines are formed sition the land) and depo wears away parts of s by water). oved into new place (where sediment is m
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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.
Neptune’s Grotto in Sardinia, Italy
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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
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This hidden beach in the Marietas Islands, Mexico, was once inside a huge sea cave, but the roof collapsed!
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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.