Erosional landforms include headlands, bays, caves, arches, stacks, stumps and wave-cut platforms. There are also depositional landforms such as beaches, spits and bars.
The process of erosion can create different landforms along the coastline.
Cliffs along the coastline do not erode at the same pace. When a stretch of coastline is formed from different types of rock, headlands and bays can form.
Bands of soft rock such as clay and sand are weaker therefore they can be eroded quickly. This process forms bays. A bay is an inlet of the sea where the land curves inwards, usually with a beach. Hard rock such as chalk is more resistant to the processes of erosion. When the softer rock is eroded inwards, the hard rock sticks out into the sea, forming a headland.
Erosional features such as wave-cut platforms and cliffs can be found on headlands, since they are more open to the waves. Bays are more sheltered with constructive waves which deposit sediment to form a beach.
Cliffs are shaped through erosion and weathering. Soft rock erodes quickly and forms gentle sloping cliffs, whereas hard rock is more resistant and forms steep cliffs. A wave-cut platform is a wide gently-sloping surface found at the foot of a cliff.
A wave-cut platform is formed when the following occurs:
Caves, arches, stacks and stumps are erosional features that are commonly found on a headland.