coastal area
Land near water
A coastal area is land along or near a shoreline—the zone where land meets ocean, sea, or large lake.
The term appears in geographic, environmental, and planning contexts: Coastal areas face increased flooding risk, development in coastal areas.
The boundaries are imprecise, extending inland as far as marine influences reach.
- shorelineLand-water boundary
- sandy shoreGrainy coastal land strip
- estuaryTidal mixing zone
- duneWind-formed sand ridge
- beachSandy waterside margin
erosion · salt marsh · shipwreck site · mangrove · harbor · harbor town · fishing pier · boat ramp · coral · sea level rise · fishing village · oyster bed · intertidal zone · resort town · ocean view · peninsula · barrier island · tidal flat
- placescity, town, village, hamlet, building
- geographic areascountry, county, province, district, zone
- habitatsforest, ocean, lake, river, pond
- settlementsvillage, cities, hamlet, city, towns
- wildernesswilds, backcountry, back country, backwoods, hinterland
- birding spotsbird sanctuary, bird blind, bird hide, blind, hide
coastal areainterior
Inside area or region
hinterland · midland · heartland · backcountry · upcountry
coastal areahighland
Elevated, mountainous land
mountainous region · upland · alpine region · plateau · high country
coastal areamountain region
Area of high elevation
highland · upland · alpine zone · plateau · steppe