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There are various kinds of beaches, and the way they look is constantly changing

Ocean waves rolling onto the beach at Piha, New Zealand.

The three main types of beach considered here are: 

  • rocky shores

  • flat, sandy (and shingle) beaches

  • mudflats in lagoons and estuaries.

Many of the beaches in Aotearoa New Zealand are made up of more than one of these types or variations of them. 

Related articles

  • Estuary formation

  • Habitats in the Bay of Plenty

Related activities

  • Changes on the beach

  • Estuary metaphors

  • Where do I live?

Related images

  • Monitoring rocky shore communities

  • Mt Maunganui surf beach

  • Mangroves act as a buffer (mudflats)

  • Classifying marine habitats

Image: Piha Beach, Aleksei Potov, 123RF Ltd.

Glossary

Rights: Aleksei Potov, image licensed through 123rf.com
Published: 19 July 2021Size: 221.4 KB
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