Headlands and bays Description: A headland is a high piece of land jutting out into the sea. Irish examples: Mizen Head; Malin Head Description: A bay is a large curved opening into the coast. Irish examples: Dublin Bay; Galway Bay
Formation: Certain parts of the coastline consist of parallel bands of hard and soft material, placed perpendicular to the sea. Bands of hard, resistant rock (e.g. granite) are eroded at a slower rate than bands of softer, less resistant material (e.g. boulder clay). This process is called differential erosion. Sections of land left jutting out into the sea containing resistant rock are called headlands. Areas where the softer material has been eroded are called bays (Fig. 9.6).
Deposition EXAM TIP
Students must be prepared to identify all coastal landforms from an OS map, a photograph or a diagram in Section 1 (short questions) or in Section 2, Part A (20-mark question).
Headland direction Wave direction Wave
Stacks
SKILLS ACTIVITY
Draw a labelled diagram describing the formation of headlands and bays.
Key Hard rock, e.g. granite Soft rock, e.g. boulder clay Fig. 9.6(a) Stages in the formation of headlands and bays.
Fig. 9.6(b) Headland and bay on the coastline. Fig. 9.6(c) Headlands and bays on an OS map. Headlands will be labelled on an OS map using the word ‘Head’ (or ‘Ceann’ if the map is from a Gaeltacht area).
