Rocky Shorelines of the Wild Coast

Abstract

The bedrock-dominated coastline along the northern part of Eastern Cape, commonly known as the ‘Wild Coast ’, contains a range of coastal erosional and depositional landforms developed in bedrock and unconsolidated sediments. Typical erosional landforms found along this coast include cliffs, shore platforms and relict (fossil) clifflines, sea arches and stacks, and tafoni weathering forms. Depositional features include beachrock, aeolianite, coastal sand dunes, sandy beaches and barriers across tidal inlets. These erosional and depositional landforms are largely a product of climate and sea-level changes during the Quaternary and Holocene. The aesthetically pleasing landscapes of the Wild Coast are a significant tourist attraction.