rocky coast

A rocky coast is a landform characterized by steep slopes and high elevations adjacent to the sea, often dominated by exposed bedrock. These coasts typically occur where tectonic plates meet or in areas shaped by glacial activity. The most common feature of a rocky coast is the sea cliff, which can range from a few meters to hundreds of meters high.1

Sea cliffs are formed by wave erosion at sea level, leading to the collapse of the rock above. Often, a notch is cut into the cliff face by wave action. At the base of these cliffs, a wave-cut platform, a flat surface formed by wave erosion, can be found at about mid-tide elevation. While rocky coasts are shaped by erosion, their retreat is often slow due to the resistance of the bedrock.12