Cove

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A cove is a circular or oval coastal inlet with a narrow entrance. Colloquially, the term is sometimes used to describe any sheltered bay.

Coves form on concordant coastlines, where bands of rock of varying strength run parallel to the coast. Initially, a narrow band of relatively strong rock, like limestone or an igneous rock forms the coastline, and behind it lies a band of a weaker rock, such as clays and sands. Waves act on weak areas of the coast, such as joints and cracks, and eventually break through the strong rock, exposing the weak rock. The weak rock is quickly eroded by wave action, sub- ASS rock, such as limestone or chalk forms the back of the cove.

A good example of a cove is Lulworth Cove on the Jurassic Coast in Dorset because just west of it a second cove, Stair Hole, is forming.

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Last updated on Saturday March 01, 2008 at 21:14:12 PST (GMT -0800)
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