In what sequence where these features formed? Identify the coastal landform in each picture. In time this will also erode and all that will remain is a _ at sea level. Further erosion causes the arch to collapse forming a _, which is like a pillar of rock standing away from the coast. Where there is a piece of land jutting out into the sea, also known as a _, the cave can wear right through it and an _ forms like that found at Għarb at the mouth of Wied il-Mielaħ. In this way a _ is formed like the one we see at Għar Lapsi and many others along the coast. On stormy days large waves wear easily weak spots like _ and slowly opens them wider and wider. Fill in the blanks with the terms used in exercise (a) to complete this paragraph on sea erosion along the coast. Look at the figure below showing how a headland is eroded by the sea.ī.

You can also watch this video by clicking here.ġ. Watch these two short video clips explaining clearly how caves, arches stacks and stumps are formed. The diagram below explains the sequence of events in the formation of the named coastal erosional features. Slowly, even this separated rock will be eroded and what remains will be only a low reef at the level of the sea known as a stump. One finds such stacks at Għar Qawqla in Marsalforn, Gozo and even in Comino. Finally the ceiling of the arch collapses too and only a separate rock or a stack remains off the coast. The force of the sea continues to erode the headland, thus the arch gradually becomes bigger until it can no longer support the top of the arch. In Malta we may find other examples such as the arch at Ras il-Ħamrija near Għar Lapsi and Blue Grotto (see image below). Another large arch like this can be seen at Wied il-Mielaħ, limits of Għarb in Gozo too. A well-known arch like this, called the azure window, could be seen at Dwejra point in Gozo until it totally collapsed into the sea on 8 March 2017. Where there are protruding promontories or headlands, the cave sometimes erodes right through the headland and forms a small arch. In the picture below we can see deep caves formed into the upper coralline limestone on the northern coast of Gozo. The sea, laden with rock pieces, is capable of eroding and widening cracks in hard rock such as Upper and Lower Coralline Limestone. Through hydraulic action and abrasion the waves containing sand and other material grind away the rocks until cracks, joints or bedding planes are enlarged and gradually become caves. Watch this short video clip which explains how headlands and bays are formed.Īlong the years, the sea breaks against the cracks in the cliff face, slowly widening and eroding them until they form sea caves, of which one can see many along the coasts of the Maltese islands. A bay is a sheltered inlet of the sea where the land curves inwards, usually with a beach. The weaker bands of soft rocks next to the headland are eroded quicker thus forming inlets known as bays. A headland is a cliff formed from hard rock that sticks out into the sea and is surrounded by water on three sides. This leaves a section of land jutting out into the sea called a headland. The bands of soft rock erode more quickly than those of more resistant rock. Due to the different nature of rock, erosion occurs at different rates. Headlands are formed when the sea attacks a section of coast with alternating bands of hard and soft rock which outcrop at a right angle to the coastline.

Sea stack landform