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Coasts with a narrow continental shelf that are close to the open ocean are called pelagic coast, while other coasts are more sheltered coast in a gulf or bay. A shore, on the other hand, may refer to parts of land adjoining any large body of water, including oceans (sea shore) and lakes (lake shore).
Nov 28, 2023 · Because coasts are dynamic, or constantly changing, they are important ecosystems. They provide unique homes for marine plants, animals, and insects. Coasts can be icy, like the Shackleton Coast of Antarctica, or desert, like the Skeleton Coast of Namibia. Coasts help us understand natural events, such as weather and changing sea levels.
Multimedia. Coasts border all bodies of water on Earth, marking the transition from land to water. They are home to over 127 million people—more than 40% of the Nation’s population and provides $8.6 trillion in goods and services each year. USGS research and tools help our Nation manage vital, healthy, and sustainable coastal areas.
beach. delta. wave-cut platform. sea arch. coastal dune. coastal landforms, any of the relief features present along any coast, the result of a combination of processes, sediments, and the geology of the coast itself. The coastal environment of the world is made up of a wide variety of landforms manifested in a spectrum of sizes and shapes ...
Jul 13, 2024 · coast, broad area of land that borders the sea. A brief treatment of coasts follows. For full treatment, see coastal landforms. The coastlines of the world’s continents measure about 312,000 km (193,000 miles). They have undergone shifts in position over geologic time because of substantial changes in the relative levels of land and sea ...
Coasts are productive and diverse landscapes that link land and ocean and support critical ecosystems, local communities and economies. Much of our population lives near and relies upon coastal environments for commerce through shipping and navigation, offshore energy, fisheries and other food sources, tourism, recreation and more.
