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What is a coast?

An illustration of a rocky coastline

A coast is a strip of land that meets the sea or ocean. This land could be made of things such as rock, sand, mud or gravel.

An illustration of a rocky coastline

Watch: Explore different coastal areas around the UK

Find out more about the coastlines of Blackpool and the Giant's Causeway in the UK.

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Coasts around the UK

Coasts are always changing. These changes are caused both by nature and humans.

This means that coasts have lots of different features, such as beaches, cliffs, islands, caves and mudflats.

The UK is surrounded by the North鈥疉tlantic Ocean, the鈥疦orth Sea, Irish Sea, and the English Channel.

It is鈥痑 maritime nation, which means that the lives of people living here are connected with the sea.

Map of the seas and ocean around the UK - the North Sea, the English Channel, the Irish Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean
Figure caption,
Map of the seas and ocean around the UK
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Differences around UK coasts

Cities and towns have been built on some coasts, and parts of the coastline are easily accessible from the land and sea.

Other coastal areas are protected because of their natural beauty, wildlife and scientific importance. They might not be suitable for settlements.

The UK coast can be different depending on:

  • the location

  • the type of rock the coastline is made of

Blackpool, North-West of England

The North Pier and Blackpool Tower
Image caption,
The North Pier and Blackpool Tower

Blackpool is a large seaside resort and town located on a sandy coast by the Irish Sea.

It is the only beach resort in the UK with three piers.

With its tourist attractions, accommodation, promenades and amusement parks, it is visited by locals and tourists.

Blackpool rests on softer rocks, which means that they wear away more easily. The coastline here needs strengthening to protect homes from flooding.

The North Pier and Blackpool Tower
Image caption,
The North Pier and Blackpool Tower

Giant's Causeway, north coast of Northern Ireland

The Giant's Causeway
Image caption,
The Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland

The Giant鈥檚 Causeway is an area of column-like basalt rocks, which was created in a volcanic eruption around 60 million years ago.

A flood of hot lava poured from in the ground and created layers of basalt; as the lava cooled, it contracted and cracked into the columns.

It is an important landmark because it helps scientists understand the of the Earth.

Basalt, like other , is very hard. That means it takes longer to wear away, so it takes much longer for the coast to change.

The Giant's Causeway
Image caption,
The Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland
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Did you know?

Did you know?

The UK has around 31,368 km of coastline.

An illustration of a beach and a pier
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The processes that form coastlines

Coasts are always changing because the sea is always moving.

Waves can be caused by storms, movement under the sea, and the pull of the Moon鈥檚 gravity. The rising and falling of sea levels along coasts are called tides.

There are two main processes involved in the shaping of coastlines:

Erosion

A cave, arch, stack and stump
Image caption,
A cave, arch, stack and stump

As powerful waves crash against the rocks on the shore, the rocks can be eroded. This erosion causes pieces of rock to fall off. Erosion helps create caves and arches on the coastline.

A cave, arch, stack and stump
Image caption,
A cave, arch, stack and stump
Image gallerySkip image gallerySlide 1 of 5, A cliff face, Over time, waves cause cracks to open in the coastline.

Deposition

A spit at Spurn Head, England
Image caption,
A spit at Spurn Head, England

Pieces of rock that have fallen off are then tossed around by the waves and broken down into rounded stones and sand.

These pieces are carried by the water to more sheltered parts of the coastline, where the calmer, slower waves deposit the stones and sand.

These deposits can form long beaches, spits and sand dunes.

A spit at Spurn Head, England
Image caption,
A spit at Spurn Head, England
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Activities

Quiz: UK coastline

Quiz: Erosion

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