The coast is where the land meets the sea. Coasts are not straight lines; they curve in and out.
Key idea
A bay is part of the sea that curves into the land. A gulf is a very large bay. A cape is a point of land that sticks out into the water.
Why it works
Land around a bay blocks some of the wind and waves, so the water is often calmer. That is why many towns and harbors are built on bays: boats can stay safe there.
Worked example: Bay or lake?
Hudson Bay has land on most sides, but it opens to the ocean in the north. Is it a bay or a lake?
- A lake has land all around it.
- Hudson Bay opens to the sea.
Answer: A bay.
Common mistake
Children often call a bay a lake. Look for the opening: a bay always opens to the sea on one side. A lake is closed in by land.
For the grown-up. Names do not always follow the rule: some very big waters are called bays and some smaller ones gulfs. Look at a map of a coast you have visited and find a bay, a cape and a beach.