coastline
Where land ends
A coastline is the boundary where land meets the sea—the outline of a coast as seen on a map or from above.
The term often emphasizes shape and extent: California's rugged coastline, the coastline stretches for hundreds of miles.
Coastlines shift with tides and erosion, making precise measurement famously difficult.
Steep natural rock walls
- dunesWind-formed sand ridges
- headlandCoastal land jutting seaward
- coveSheltered coastal indentation
- bayPartially enclosed water
inlet · peninsula · promontory · estuary · fjord · lagoon · delta · bluff
Fine rock particles
- shoreLand bordering water
- seashellsEmpty mollusk exoskeletons
- tidepoolsCoastal rock hollows holding seawater
- surfingRiding waves standing up
boardwalk · pier · driftwood · shingle · pebbles · crab · rockpools · beachcombing
Traveling energy disturbances
- weatheringAtmospheric breakdown of materials
- sea level riseIncreasing ocean surface height
- abrasionShallow surface wound
- rockfallCollapsed cliff material
sediment · tides · currents · undercutting · landslide · groynes · breakwaters · sea walls
Safe anchorage for ships
- portDocking place for ships
- lighthouseCoastal beacon tower
- marinaRecreational vessel harbor
- buoyTethered nautical signal
navigation · beacon · anchorage · seawall · quay · wharf · dock · mooring
Bounding line of shape
- outlineSummary of key elements
- silhouetteFilled-in outline shape
- profileSide-facing outline
- curvatureDeviation from flatness
undulation · sinuosity · meandering · jagged · rugged · irregular · indented · crenulated
Outer edge or limit
- demarcationFormal boundary setting
- perimeterShape's outer edge length
- edgeBoundary or sharpness
- limitMaximum allowed extent
margin · verge · territorial waters · baseline · high-water mark · low-water mark · jurisdiction · national border
cliffs
Steep natural rock walls
bay · inlet · peninsula · promontory · estuary · fjord · lagoon · delta · bluff · reef
sand
Fine rock particles
- shoreLand bordering water
- seashellsEmpty mollusk exoskeletons
- tidepoolsCoastal rock hollows holding seawater
surfing · boardwalk · pier · driftwood · shingle · pebbles · crab · rockpools · beachcombing · sea glass
waves
Traveling energy disturbances
- weatheringAtmospheric breakdown of materials
- sea level riseIncreasing ocean surface height
- abrasionShallow surface wound
rockfall · sediment · tides · currents · undercutting · landslide · groynes · breakwaters · sea walls · riprap
harbor
Safe anchorage for ships
- portDocking place for ships
- lighthouseCoastal beacon tower
- marinaRecreational vessel harbor
buoy · navigation · beacon · anchorage · seawall · quay · wharf · dock · mooring · channel
contour
Bounding line of shape
- outlineSummary of key elements
- silhouetteFilled-in outline shape
- profileSide-facing outline
curvature · undulation · sinuosity · meandering · jagged · rugged · irregular · indented · crenulated · scalloped
border
Outer edge or limit
- demarcationFormal boundary setting
- perimeterShape's outer edge length
- edgeBoundary or sharpness
limit · margin · verge · territorial waters · baseline · high-water mark · low-water mark · jurisdiction · national border
- scenic landscapesmountain vista, ocean view, canyon, waterfall, sunset
- geography termsmap, atlas, globe, compass, coordinates
- American SceneryGrand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Rocky Mountains, Great Plains
- cliff sceneryocean views, sea views, horizon, waves, rocky shore
- coastal landformsbeach, beaches, cliff, cliffs, shore
- coastal placesbeach, Big Sur, island, Monterey Bay, resort
coastlineinterior
Inside area or region
inland · hinterland · heartland · midland · backcountry
- rocky coastlineStone-edged meeting of land and sea
- rugged coastlineIrregular, rocky ocean boundary
- French coastlineGallic nation's seaside edge
- coastline erosionSea wearing away land
- California coastlinePacific shore of largest western state