sand flats
Beach at low-tide
Sand flats are broad, level expanses of sand exposed at low tide or in arid environments.
Along coastlines, they appear when the tide recedes, revealing stretches of wet, compact sand often used for clamming or walking: We crossed the sand flats to reach the island.
In deserts, sand flats are dry, barren areas between dunes.
- shoalShallow water hazard
- beachSandy waterside margin
- tidal flatPeriodically submerged coastal plain
- intertidal zoneShore covered and uncovered daily
- tide poolWave-stranded water hollow
fiddler crab · shell · beach combing · dune · lugworm · ripple · mud · salt crust · sea salt · estuary · mudflat · quahog · razor clam · shorebird · wading birds · sediment · tidal current · seagrass
- seafloor sedimentssediment layers, seafloor, substrate, detritus, organic matter
- flats fishingbonefish, tarpon, redfish, permit, shallow water
- ecosystemsrainforest, forest, desert, jungle, ocean
- freshwater fishingfreshwater fishing, trout fishing, salmon fishing, freshwater fish, bass fishing
- sandgrains, dunes, erg, grit, silica
- sand dunesdunes, dune, White Sands, coastal dunes, beach dunes
submersion/exposure
sand flatsseabed
Underwater terrain below
ocean floor · deep water · coral reef · kelp forest · tidal pools
substrate composition
sand flatsbedrock
Solid stone underground
mudflats · salt marsh · rocky shore · peat bog · mangrove swamp