Spits

• What is a spit?

  A long narrow beach, only attached to land on one side and extends out into open water
• Why does a spit form?

  Due to longshore drift being stopped by a headland, longshore continues. Then a river (usually) stops the spit from growing any further and connecting to land on another side
• Why do many spits have recurves or hooks?

  Because of the alternating wind direction
• Why do spits not extend past the river to another coastline?

  Spits stop growing any further to the river outlet eroding it and removing material
• Why do sand dunes often develop on a spit

  The prevailing wind picks up dry sand from the spit and carries it inland to form sand dunes
• What is marram grass and how does it help spits?

  Marram grass grows on sand dunes and increases stability of the spit
• Why do mudflats and salt marshes often develop behind a spit?

  Because gentle low energy waves entering the sheltered area behind the spit deposit fine silt and mud creating mudflats and salt marshes