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Hong Kong is also blessed with some fascinating coastal geomorphology.
Below is a brief glossary of terms that are used to describe the features of Hong Kong's coastal geomorphology.
- Cliffs -- a sharp steep distinct slope between land and sea.
- Geos -- a narrow, linear cleft (bend) running inland from a sea cliff.
- Sea caves -- an opening beneath a sea cliff caused by coastal erosion into which seawater may penetrate.
- Wave-cut platforms -- a shore platform is a low gradient rock surface located between the tides (intertidal) and probably caused by the recession of a sea cliff.
- Stacks -- a coastal pillar of rock above the mean high tide (HT) level. A stack stands out, like the tor of To Kwa Wan.
- Beaches and raised beaches -- a beach is the site (location) of accumulation of sediment deposited by waves and sea currents around the edge of the sea i.e. coastal margin.
- Sand dunes -- a build-up of coastal deposits, often by wind to make a small loose, sandy hill above mean HT mark.
- Sand spits -- a long narrow accumulation of beach deposits with one end attached to the shore and the other (seaward) end projecting out into the sea.
- Tombolos -- these are sand spits or sand bars which link an island to the mainland or to another island.
- Boulder beaches -- beaches where large rock blocks cover most of the shore.
- Rocky shores -- shorelines, which are composed mainly of solid rock as a sloping or flat platform (also called hard shores).
- Mangrove estuaries and sediment bays -- coastal areas where fine sediments such as mud accumulate to make soft shores. Such a habitat is favourable for the development of intertidal tree and shrub ecosystems called mangroves.
Video activity 1
You can see many of these coastal geomorphological form in the following video clip:
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