4 TOPOGRAPHY OF BLAKENEY POINT. 



liable to be over-run by the waves, particularly when an excep- 

 tionally high tide happens to coincide with an onshore gale. 



From the fifth mile onwards to the extremity, the main beach 

 carries on its lee side some five-and-twenty lateral shingle banks 

 or hooks, varying in length from a few hundred feet to half-a- 

 mile, or even more (Fig. l). These hooks are aggregated 

 together in three groups, each of which has its own special 

 characteristics. The first of these, which is known as the 

 Marams, includes twelve hooks with intervening salt marshes ; 

 the second, which includes five hooks, is largely covered by a 

 small sand-hill, a prominent feature in the landscape known as 

 the Hood ; whilst the final series of at least ten more banks 

 includes two topographic features, the Long Hills and the 

 Headland, separated from one another by a large triangular 

 salt marsh (the Pelvetia Marsh, P.M., Fig. 1). Each bears a 

 system of sand dunes, viz. : the Long Hills to the East, whilst on 

 the Headland to the West of the marsh, are the series of 

 ranges collectively termed the Beacon Hills ; the latter provide 

 the principal breeding ground for the terns, 



The relations of all these regions are indicated in the map 

 (Fig. 1). 

 THE MARAMS. 



Here within a length of a mile or less, are twelve hook-shaped 

 lateral shingle banks, 2 the extremities of which are almost 

 without exception turned at a right angle so as to point East. 

 These laterals consist of stabilised shingle ; they are well 

 covered with vegetation, and their crests stand above tidal 

 limits. Under the protection of these banks the surface level 

 of the bays between has been raised by the accretion of mud, 

 and a very homogeneous series of salt marshes has developed, 

 having an average level slightly above that of high water of 

 neap tides. The process of accretion has probably been pro- 

 moted by x the narrowing of the mouths of these bays and the 

 consequent protection from scour which results from the 

 L-shaped terminals of the separating banks. 



2. Whilst there are twelve banks involved (Cf. Fig. 2), in two cases three banks 

 are so closely juxtaposed as to be represented each by one effective bank only ; 

 hence for practical purposes, it may be said that there are eight banks and 

 eight salt marshes occupying their eastern flanks. 



