MasteryExams
Geography • Physical GeographyMedium

What is the term for a steep coastal cliff formed by wave action, at the base of which a horizontal or gently inclined rock shelf is left behind as the cliff retreats?

A. Tombolo
B. Wave-cut platform✓ Correct Answer
C. Spit
D. Stump

💡 Solution & Explanation

A wave-cut platform develops when persistent wave action erodes the base of a coastal cliff, leaving behind a gently sloping rocky bench as the cliff face retreats inland. Features like spits or tombolas are depositional landforms rather than erosional abrasion surfaces. Coastal geomorphology is frequently examined in physical geography.

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