LIFE'S A BEACH #68 - HALLSANDS
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If you would like to add more caches to this series, please feel free to do so!
Please contact heartradio through his profile first so that he can keep track of numbers and avoid duplications - the caches can be any type except Traditionals and Letterboxes without multiple stages.
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THIS IS AN EARTHCACHE, WHICH MEANS THERE IS NO PLASTIC BOX TO SEARCH FOR AT THE COORDINATES, PLEASE DON'T LOOK FOR ONE. INSTEAD PLEASE SEE THE LOGGING TASKS BELOW.
An EarthCache exploring the lost village of Hallsands. You will need to visit two places to gather information, then send your answers to me through the Message Center or by email. Recommended parking is at the waypoints listed.
Logging Tasks:
Stage 1 - The Beach
- 1. There are several types of coastal defence at Hallsands. Look at the descriptions below and name two coastal defences that can be seen here, saying where on the beach you can see them.
- 2. Describe how each one works to protect the specific area at GZ.
Stage 2 - The Old Chapel (Optional)
- Time for a photo opportunity here if you wish, an optional task is to take a photo of yourself/your GPSr/your favourite hat etc, with the ruined building you can see here on the cliff which is in fact the Old Chapel.
Stage 3 - The Village
- 1. Observe and describe the appearance of the wave-cut platform that the village was built on. Estimate its width. Why would it have been a good location for the village?
- 2. The village was destroyed after the dredging. Explain why the village could not survive without the shingle bank there.
- 3. To prove you visited, how many lines of poetry are there on the blue plaque?
PLEASE SEND THE ANSWERS TO ME THROUGH THE MESSAGE CENTER OR BY EMAIL WITHIN 24 HOURS OF YOU LOGGING A FIND.
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Geology:
Coastal Defences:
Here are five types of coastal defence common around the British coastline:
- Sea Wall: A wall built on the edge of the coastline which protects the base of cliffs, roads, land and buildings against erosion. Can prevent coastal flooding in some areas.
- Groynes: A barrier extending from the beach, offshore into the sea. Groynes are used to slow the loss of beach grade sediment through longshore drift, the process in which material is carried down the beach by waves coming in at an angle. With proper groyne field design, beach erosion can be reduced due to trapped sediment on the up-drift side of the groyne. Groynes can be constructed out of wood, stone or concrete depending on the size of native beach material.
- Rock armor or riprap: Large boulders are piled up on the beach or in sections of the beach to absorb the energy of waves and allow the build up of a beach. It works by absorbing and deflecting the impact of waves before they reach the defended structure. The size and mass of the riprap material absorbs the impact energy of waves, while the gaps between the rocks trap and slow the flow of water, lessening its ability to erode soil or structures on the coast.
- Breakwater: Offshore sloped or vertical structures reducing incoming wave energy arriving at the coastline. As well as reducing erosion, this also creates calmer waters for harbours and shipping.
- Managed retreat: Areas of the coast are allowed to erode and flood naturally encouraging the development of beaches (a natural defence) and salt marshes (important for the environment).
Several coastal defences can be seen at North Hallsands beach to protect the car park, the cliffs and the houses.
Believe it or not, beaches are also coastal defences. A beach in itself acts as a coastal defence as it reduces wave impact and erosion, and prevents inland flooding. A wider beach can reduce storm damage to coastal structures by dissipating energy across the surf zone (The region of breaking waves), protecting upland structures and infrastructure from storm surges and unusually high tides.
Another feature you see at Hallsands is the wave cut platform, the narrow flat area often found at the base of a sea cliff or along the shoreline of a lake, bay, or sea that was created by the erosion of waves. They are formed as shown in the diagram below.
