what is a Beach? (geographical)?

Answer 1

A strip of land bordering a large body of water. Usually sandy or pebbly. The shore of an ocean.

Answer 2

a beach is an area where the land (made of sand) meets a body of water that leads to the ocean.
like manhattan beach, coney island beach, the jersey shore.

Answer 3

What Is a Beach and What Does It Do?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines a beach as "the area of unconsolidated material, such as sand, pebbles, or rocks, that extends landward from the low water line to the place where there is marked change in material or physiographic form, or to the line of permanent vegetation (usually the effective limit of storm waves)." In other words, a beach is the sandy, pebbly, or rocky shore of a body of water.



Beaches vary widely in physical type and characteristics. When most of us think of a beach, we picture sandy ocean beaches with waves crashing, wind blowing, and seagulls flying overhead. But beaches in the United States also include urban seashores, estuarine and lagoonal beaches, and freshwater lakefronts and riverfronts.

Ocean beaches-- Ocean beaches vary along our coasts. The Atlantic coast, for example, includes a system of barrier beaches influenced by high-energy wave action. The coasts of the Gulf of Mexico are calmer, with less wave action and more submerged vegetation like sea grasses. The Pacific region has some mountainous coastlines and volcanic islands. The plants and animals of each area are different from those of other beaches; the sand texture, color, and consistency even vary. For example, Hawaii is famous for its black sand beaches, a result of volcanic activity on the islands.

Urban seashores, freshwater lakefronts, and riverfronts-- Since goods were transported via water "highways" before the invention of trains and trucks, many American cities developed along riverfronts, ports, and lakes. Cities like Boston, St. Louis, Chicago, and San Diego have urban seashores, riverfronts, or lakefronts. These areas provide recreational opportunities for many city dwellers.

Estuarine/lagoonal beaches-- Some coastal areas, influenced by river systems, form deltas, bays, and extensive estuarine and lagoonal beaches. An estuary is an area where freshwater empties into and mixes with saltwater. The shorelines within estuaries can be vegetated with many types of plants, including mangroves and sea grass beds. These areas are important breeding grounds for a variety of fish, shellfish, and shorebirds. The Chesapeake Bay, Galveston Bay, and San Francisco Bay are all examples of estuarine systems.

A beach-- whether ocean, urban, or estuarine-- serves a variety of functions:



The beach provides a unique habitat for a variety of plants and animals. For example, 75 percent of migratory waterfowl live in or depend on coastal beaches during their life span. Dune vegetation provides nesting areas for several kinds of birds and animals. The types of species found on a beach are determined by the type of beach. In the hot, wet climate of the tropics, mangrove trees dominate estuarine/lagoonal beaches. In the harsher climate of New England, beaches are dominated by a few species of hardy grasses and bushes that can withstand strong winds, cold winters, and intense summer sun.

Stretches of beach along the coasts of the United States provide numerous recreational opportunities for millions of people. Boating, fishing, swimming, walking, beachcombing, bird-watching, and sunbathing are among the numerous activities enjoyed by beachgoers. The aesthetic aspects of a beach system provide additional benefits, even inspiring works of art and literature.

Beaches provide some protection to residents living near the ocean. They act as a buffer against the high winds and waves of powerful storm systems or turbulent seas.

Answer 4

Where land meets the ocean

Answer 5

A great opportunity for you to visit:
dictionary.reference.com

Answer 6

Life is a beach and then you die:-)

Answer 7

sloping sand leading up to water?