Sea Arch Formation and Examples

What is a sea arch?

A sea arch is an opening in a narrow headland that has been undercut by wave action attacking its sides. How is it formed and can you provide examples?

Answer:

A sea arch is an opening in a narrow headland that has been undercut by wave action attacking its sides. It is formed through erosion and can collapse over time. Examples of sea arches include the Natural Arch in Dorset, England.

Explanation: A sea arch is an opening in a narrow headland that has been undercut by wave action attacking its sides. It is formed when waves erode the rock and create a hole that goes all the way through the headland. The arch continues to erode over time and may eventually collapse, leaving a stack or a stump.

Sea arches are common along cliffs and coastlines with strong wave action. One famous example is the Natural Arch located in Dorset, England. This sea arch was formed from the erosion of limestone and is a popular tourist attraction.

Compared to the other options listed: A baymouth bar is a sandbar that completely crosses a bay, sealing it off from the open ocean. It is not an opening in a narrow headland. A tidal inlet is a narrow passage that connects a bay or lagoon to the open ocean. It is a channel, not an opening in a narrow headland. A wave-cut platform is a flat, leveled surface left behind by the retreat of a sea cliff. It is not an opening or an arch.

← Catastrophe vs disaster understanding the difference Plate tectonics understanding convergent and divergent boundaries →