How the Geological Features Were Formed

Cliffs

Erosion itself id confined between high and low tides and is influenced by the rock strata, joints and wave strength. At Peyton's point the land was under cut by wave action causing it to recede until it collapsed eventually. Rocks dipping seaward are called landslips and those dipping landward are called overhanging cliffs.

Headlands

In the alternating beds of the hard and soft rocks the hard rock becomes a greater level of resistance to erosion. They eventually standout as promontories with steep cliffs sides projecting out into he sea.

Bays

Softer rocks erode easily as they are less resistant to wave erosion. Over a period of time a circular curve or indentation in the land is formed resulting in a bay. Bays are separated by headlands.

Inlets

Waves attack the weaknesses in rocks breaking them and cutting and inlet or a small arm of the sea.

Arch

These are the results of caves formed on both sides of a narrow headland which have been eroded and tunneled through..

Stacks

Erosion of the headland leads to the collapsing of the arch leaving the seaward part of the headland as a steep, isolated pillar of rock rising from the sea.

The land is contiguous to the sea and therefore is majorly influenced by its waves. The rock type at Peyton's point is sedimentary and in particular limestone. Limestone rocks are composed mainly of coral fossils and are highly unconsolidated. In the figure below the head land is curved forming an inlet and a bay. This is possible because of wave refraction. Wave refraction takes place when there is a transition or a curve in the wave front direction of origin upon the approaching of a shelving beach. The transition in direction takes lace in shallow water areas. At this point the power to erode is reduced because of the decrease in wave energy.