Spit (landform)
A spit or sandspit is a deposition landform found off coasts. At one end, spits connect to a head, and extend into the nose. A spit is a type of bar or beach that develops where a re-entrant occurs, such as at cove's headlands, by the process of longshore drift. Longshore drift (also called littoral drift) occurs due to waves meeting the beach at an oblique angle, and backwashing perpendicular to the shore, moving sediment down the beach in a zigzag pattern. Longshore drifting is complemented by longshore currents, which transport sediment through the water alongside the beach. These currents are set in motion by the same oblique angle of entering waves that causes littoral drift and transport sediment in a similar process.
Read more about Spit (landform): Hydrology and Geology, Spits Around The World, Human Settlement Patterns
Famous quotes containing the word spit:
“Zorba: Why do the young die? Why does anybody die?
Basil: I don’t know.
Zorba: What’s the use of all your damn books? If they don’t tell you that, what the hell do they tell you?
Basil: They tell me about the agony of men who can’t answer questions like yours.
I spit on their agony.”
—Michael Cacoyannis (b. 1922)