What is a TOMBOLO?
It may be defined as “a beach connecting an island to a mainland".
Tombolo Formation: Beach and nearshore processes interact in the coastal environment and as a result characteristic sedimentary forms may be developed.
The Tombolo is unique in that it is subject to interaction of waves from two directions and to varying degrees, depending on the state of the tide.
A Tombolo relies on wave interaction effectively producing two beach faces and therefore subjected to processes from two directions.
Tombolo development is complex but in its simplest form it is initiated in a deep-water wave sheltered area behind an obstruction, such as an island, where wave fronts refract and interact from two directions. These waves meet and cancel the sediment (sand) transporting ability of one another. The sand is deposited and building commences either from the island to mainland or from the mainland outwards. The Tombolo is complete when the spit of sand connects to the obstruction.
How is the Kynance Cove Tombolo formed?
Immediately to the west of the cove two islands, Gull Island and Asparagus Island provide the necessary obstruction and refraction of deep-water Atlantic waves.
In simplistic terms these waves are divided by the islands and bend around into the relatively `still` area near the mainland. They then collide from the south and north enabling any sand to be deposited and hence the formation of the connecting beach or Tombolo.
A large tall rock known as the `Steeple` located on the north face of the Tombolo further divides any approaching waves.
PLEASE NOTE: I CANNOT ACCEPT JOINT ANSWERS FROM GROUPS OF GEOCACHERS AS I DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO SORT OUT WHO HAS SENT WHAT FOR WHOM!. IF YOU WANT TO LOG MY EARTHCACHE PLEASE EXTEND ME THE COURTESY OF MESSENGING ME YOUR OWN ANSWERS INDIVIDUALLY. THANK YOU
To log your visit you must complete some tasks:
MESSAGE me the answers to the following questions. You can contact me via THE LINK at the top of this page. Do not put them on the `logged it` page. Metric or Imperial is acceptable.
1. Estimate the width of the Tombolo between Asparagus Island and the mainland at its NARROWIST point.
2. Estimate the size of the `Steeple` rock. Height, width & length.
3. What affect does the Steeple Rock have on the waves approaching the Tombolo from the North?
4. Estimate the distance from the Steeple Rock to the cliff face (mainland)
5. What other geomorphological feature can be found in the eastern cliff adjoining the Tombolo? (You need to visit at low tide to see this)
6. Kynance Cove is famous for what kind of rock (Hint: You will see much of it carved in to ornate objects in the local gift shops around the Lizard Peninsula)
7. OPTIONAL: Take a photo of the Tombolo and the `Steeple` rock with your GPSr in the foreground and upload this to your log entry. If you would like to be in the photo that would be great.
WARNING: DO NOT get stranded by a rising tide. You cannot climb the crumbling cliff so you need to visit the cove at LOW WATER. You have been warned!
Parking for the Earthcache is at the National Trust Car Park above the cove. Access is from the main Helston-Lizard road. A small charge is normally made.Why not bring a picnic and enjoy the spectacular views Enjoy the area and why not `nab` the two nearby traditional cache`s at the same time.
Approximate centre of Tombolo 49º58.465N 005º13.940W
YOU MUST LOG AT THE SAME TIME AS SENDING ME YOUR ANSWERS VIA A GEOCACHING MESSAGE. If you can`t do both at the same time then wait until you can, otherwise I will just delete your LOG and you will have to do it all again as I DO NOT have the time to chase after you. AND be warned, I do check every one! Unfortunately, a few geocacher`s try to log the earthcache without completing the task and so I will maintain the right as the earthcache owner to delete any logs that do not fulfill the requirements or I entries that I believe to be false. I will ONLY contact you if there is a problem AND I will delete any logs for which I don`t receive answers or LOGS that I believe to be false.
This is No 5 in Snake Plissken`s Lizard Peninsula Earthcache Series!
SNAKE PLISSKEN -