IV-49 



southeast and south coasts have active glaciation and consist 

 primarily of glacier-cut embayments and fjords; the west and 

 north coasts are much flatter and have been modified to some 

 extent by sediments eroded from the interior, including glacial 

 silt, and by the grinding action of pack ice during winter. 



Pacific Islands Region: The Hawaiian Islands, American Samoa, 

 Guam. 



This region consists of tropical ocean islands of volcanic 

 origin. Dominating factors are lack of a continental shelf, 

 full exposure to oceanic conditions, and pleasantly warm 

 temperatures. Coral reefs and beach and bluff configurations 

 are typical (Figure IV. 1.22). 



MANAGEMENT AND THE BIOPHYSICAL REGIONS 



The environmental factors upon which this subdivision of the 

 national estuarlne system is made all represent transport of 

 solar or gravitational energy to the estuarine zone. Inherent 

 1n this subdivision is acceptance of the fact that the input 

 of energy—upon which all life is based—differs in guantity 

 and type in the several regions of the estuarine zone. 



In managing estuaries for human benefit, these regional differ- 

 ences in energy form and quantity represent the environmental 

 realities within which management must ODerate. In the full- 

 ness of time and with greater understanding of the world it may 



