The Tangier Bay EarthCache

The Bay of Tangier is a bay around Tangier on the Mediterranean in northern Morocco. It forms the body of water between the port and Cap Malabata in a semi circular shape. Avenue Mohamed VI runs along the bay and is known for its hotels and large modern establishments.

Headlands and bays are most commonly found at discordant coastlines where the clift is subject to differentiated rates of erosion, due to bands of varying resistant geology. However they also form at concordant coasts and in sections of cliff that have more distinct lines of weakness.

Bays are sheltered, low energy zones that form in bands of weak geology, e.g. clays. Here the cliff erodes at a faster rate. Bays are flanked by headlands which are exposed rocky outcrops positioned at 90 perpendicular to the bay. They consist of more resistant rock, e.g. limestone. Due to the way waves refract around headlands, destructive waves concentrate their energy on their sides and over time develop unique coastal features, such as caves, arches and stacks.

Wave refraction is the process by wich waves become distorted by differentiated rates of friction caused by shallower water ahead of coastal features. In deep water waves are unaffected but in shallow water waves slow down. On approaching the shorline waves will curve in to beaches and reducer the liklihood of drift. Waves approaching headlands slow down and build height creating destructive waves, the waves become refracted around the headlands and so wave energy becomes concentrated on the sides ot the headland.

Headlands, once formed, are exposed to the full force of the sea. As a result of wave refraction, destructie waves concentrate their energy on all three sides of the headland and so it slowly erodes overtime. In doing so, quite distinct features develop. In geography, the erosion of headlands in developing the sequence of cave to stumps is well developed, but how is it extended at the Post 16 level. There isn´ t a great deal of complexity in understanding and explaining how the features develop over time but clear exemplification is required as well as a clear sequence. The diagram below, shows a well annotated headland, ( at the (I)GCSE ) and it explains how headlands erode over time. It also shows the sequence through numbering. 

1- In the gz there is an ancient gate with a star and a date written on it. Do you believe there may have been any significant changes on the bay since the date on the star ?

2- Go to the terrace above you and look at the bay. Can you see the presence of stacks or stumps on the bay from there ?

Please send your answers via e-mail or message center and you can immediately log this EarthCache. If some of the answers are wrong I will contact you. It is not mandatory, but you are welcome to post a photo of you with your GPS taken at the cache spot, provided that it won´ t reveal any of the answers.

La baie de Tanger (arabe : خليج طنجة, Khalidż Tandża) est une baie située près de Tanger dans le nord du Maroc, près du détroit de Gibraltar. Le cap Spartel et le cap Malabata définissent généralement sa limite.

L'avenue Mohamed VI longe la baie et est célèbre pour ses hôtels