Coastal strip
A coastal strip is an elongated section along a sea coast that differs noticeably, geographically, biologically or politically, from neighboring land or coastal areas.
Geography and geology
On many coasts, the structure of the rocks or the sediments is structured in strips, which is related to the continental development and plate tectonics , with earlier changes in sea level and with particularities of erosion . If, for example, the surf leads to the formation of a cliff , sediments are deposited in front of it and a mostly fine-grained flat beach is created in front of the cliff.
Mountain ranges close to the coast are also often divided into parallel strips, which is related to typical processes in mountain formation and unfolding. Another characteristic parallel to the coast can be soil degradation , the natural or culturally caused deterioration of certain soil properties.
As a result of these and other effects, structures parallel to the coast can develop peculiarities, for example as a local climate , in the form of vegetation , fauna , settlement and, last but not least, the political structure.
biology
Coastal differences in rock, weathering, climate and water flow are initially reflected in the soil form , the soil organisms and vegetation , and later also in the fauna.
Various amphibian and bird species seek out a special microclimate, flat coastal strip or other preferred places for their eggs. The tidal area can also be a special habitat , for example for species of bunting along the Atlantic coast. Rowettia goughensis lives on the Gough Island in the South Atlantic in the coastal area between ebb and flow, where many insects colonize flotsam .
A variety of salt-loving ( halophilic ) vegetation often develops along longer beach walls or narrow coastal zones, for example on the Baltic Sea and in the Aegean Sea . On the coasts of the Dodecanese, low halophytes soon pass inland to greater heights, until they are in turn replaced by maquis or other shrub vegetation.
Settlement and politically relevant coastal strips
The natural resources on the coast have always shaped the human way of life and gave rise to specific forms of culture. Some of the indigenous people of Brazil and traditional Eskimo villages are dependent on fishing , while other ways of life depend on local agriculture . Some of today's minorities , but also specific building methods and courtyard shapes, go back to such early settlement structures .
In some coastal regions this has resulted in a mix of cultures and languages, for example in the south and west of France, in Scandinavia or in the coastal strip from Istria to Dalmatia . These circumstances can lead to political conflicts and special solutions, as exemplified by the establishment of the Territorio libero di Trieste (1947–1954) (see Zone A ) or today's discussions about Slovenia's access to the Mediterranean.
