Mon Prof Augmenté
How Waves Carve a Headland
Age 12 · Geography
Waves crash into weak spots in a cliff and slowly wear them away over thousands of years. A small crack grows into a cave, then an arch, then a stack, and finally a stump.
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In the picture
- Crack: waves force water and air into a weak line in the rock and widen it
- Cave: the crack is hollowed out into a hole at the base of the cliff
- Arch: the cave breaks right through the headland, leaving a rock bridge
- Stack: the arch roof falls in, leaving a tall pillar alone in the sea
- Stump: the stack is worn down to a low rock covered at high tide
Examples
- The Old Harry Rocks chalk stacks on the south coast of England
- A sandcastle wall that waves undercut until the top collapses
Key takeaways
- Erosion always starts at weak points such as cracks and joints
- The order is always crack, cave, arch, stack, stump
Quiz: How Waves Carve a Headland (Age 12)
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Where do waves start to wear away a headland?
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In which order do the shapes form as waves carve a headland?
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How does an arch turn into a stack?
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