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What is a coast?

A coast is a strip of land that meets the sea or the ocean.

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

Watch: Explore the coast of Blackpool and Giant鈥檚 Causeway

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

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Coasts of the UK

  • The North Sea surrounds Scotland, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Denmark, Norway and Germany.
  • The English Channel is found between England and France.
  • The Irish Sea is between England, the Isle of Man, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
  • The North Atlantic Ocean is next to Europe, Africa and North/South America.
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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Did you know?

The United Kingdom has around 31,368km of coastline.

That鈥檚 longer than 270 football pitches!

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Comparing coastlines

Coasts are changed by nature and humans.

Changes can be caused as the sea the land. Because of these changes, coasts have many different features, such as beaches, , islands and caves.

Some cities and towns have been built on coasts. Other coastal areas are protected because of their natural beauty, the animals and plants found there and their importance for scientists.

At and there are often fishing and trading .

Some coastlines that are further away from houses and businesses are unspoilt and can be visited by walkers.

Here are two different coastal areas and the reasons why they are both important:

The Giant's Causeway

Image gallerySkip image gallerySlide 1 of 3, The Giant's Causeway with its basalt columns and rocks, The Giant鈥檚 Causeway, Northern Ireland The Giant鈥檚 Causeway is a UNESCO World Heritage site. People see this area as very special, which means they cannot live there.

Blackpool, North West England

Image gallerySkip image gallerySlide 1 of 3, Blackpool, The coast of Blackpool Blackpool has lots of tourist attractions and activities on offer, including a theme park, three piers, and fish and chip shops.
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Sea defences

A sea defence wall at Blackpool
Image caption,
A sea defence wall at Blackpool

Sometimes, when the coast is made of soft rock, which breaks away easily and quickly, houses near the coast can flood.

Many coastal towns, such as Blackpool, have built sea defence walls to make the coast stronger and slow down the .

A sea defence wall at Blackpool
Image caption,
A sea defence wall at Blackpool
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Activities

Quiz: Blackpool or Giant's Causeway

Quiz: Coastal features

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