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6. Coastal features: 



CAPE. — ^A relatively extensive land area jutting seaward from a continent or large island 

 which prominently marks a change in or interrupts notably the coastal trend; a prominent feature. 



COAST. — ^A zone of land of indefinite width bordering the sea; the littoral or coastal region. 



HIGH-WATER LINE. — The line where the established plane of mean high water intersects 

 the shore. 



ISLAND. — -A land area (smaller than a continent) extending above and completely surrounded 

 by water at mean high water. 



ISLET. — A very small and minor island. 



LOW- WATER LINE. — The line where the established low-water datum intersects the shore. 

 The plane of reference that constitutes the low-water datum differs in different regions. 



POINT. — The extreme end of a cape, or the outer end of any land area protruding into the 

 water; less prominent than a cape. 



SHORE. — ^The narrow zone of land fronting any body of water. 



SHORELINE. — The line of contact between the land and a body of water. (The line delineating 

 the shoreline on Coast and Geodetic Survey nautical charts and surveys approximates the high-water 

 line.) 



c. Streams (application of specific terms varies with locality): 



BAYOU. — ^A minor sluggish waterway or estuarial creek, generally tidal or characterized by a 

 slow or imperceptible current, and wdth its course generally through lowlands or swamps, tributary 

 to or connecting oth jr streams or bodies of water. In the Gulf Coast region, Florida Peninsula, and 

 lower Mississippi Valley, many specific meanings have been implied. 



BROOK and RUN. — -Minor streams always tributary to creeks and rivers. 



CREEK. — A stream, less prominent than a river in any region, generally tributary to a river 

 or another creek. 



LAGOON. — A shallow body of water, as a pond or lake, which usually has a shallow restricted 

 outlet to the sea. 



RIVER. — -A stream relatively prominent in any extensive region. 



SLOUGH. — A minor muddy marshland or tidal waterway which usually connects other tidal 

 areas. 



d. Submarine depressions: 



CALDRON. — A small deep of a general circular, elliptical, or oval shape. 



CANYON. — A deep submarine depression of valley form with relatively steep side slopes. 



SEAVALLEY. — A submarine depression of broad valley rorm without the steep side slopes 

 which characterize a canyon. 



VALLEY. — A prolongation of a land valley into or across the continental or insular shelf, which 

 generally gives evidence of having been formed by stream erosion. 



e. Submarine elevations: 



BANK. — -A non-coral or non-rocky area extending from the shore which may uncover and is 

 a menace to surface navigation. (See Bank in 1681.) 



CREST. ^The more or less narrow, irregular, longitudinal top of an elevated feature such as 

 a ridge or seamount. 



DOME. — A specific dome-shaped elevation with a characteristically rounded profile. 



KNOLL. — ^A small submarine hill, or elevation, rising from the ocean floor, but which is smaller 

 and less prominent than a seamount. 



LEDGE. — A rocky formation continuous with and fringing the shore. The area that uncovers 

 is usually represented on charts by symbols. 



PINNACLE. — Any characteristic rocky column which is dangerous to surface navigation. 



REEF. — Any coral elevation, or a detached rocky elevation that is dangerous to surface navi- 

 gation and may uncover. A rocky reef is detached from shore but a coral reef may or may not extend 

 from the shore. (See Bank in 1681.) 



SHOAL. — A detached non-coral or non-rocky area which is a menace to surface navigation 

 and may shift in position or change in shape. (See Bank in 1681. Reefs and shoals are 



