THE FORMS CARVED AND MOLDED BY WAVES 243 



So soon as the first barrier is formed, processes are set in opera- 

 tion which tend to trans- 

 form the newly formed la- 

 goon into land, and so with 

 a series of barriers, a zone 

 of water lilies between the 

 outer barrier and the bar, 

 a bog, and a land platform 

 may represent the succes- 

 sive stages in this acquisi- 

 tion of territory by the 

 lands. A noteworthy ex- 

 ample of barrier series 

 and extension of the land 

 behind them, is afforded by FJQ< 268 _ _ Series of barriera at the western end 



the bay at the western end O f Lake Superior (after Gilbert). 



of Lake Superior (Fig. 268) . 



Character profiles. The character profiles yielded by the 

 work of waves are easy of recognition (Fig. 269). The vertical 



cliff with notch at its 

 base is varied by the 

 stack of sugar-loaf 

 form carved in softer 

 rocks, or the steeper 

 notched variety cut 

 from harder masses. 

 Sea caves and sea 

 arches yield varia- 

 tions of a curve com- 

 mon to the undercut 

 forms. Wherever the 

 materials of the shore 

 are loosely consoli- 

 dated only, the slop- 

 ing cliff is formed at the angle of repose of the materials. The 

 barrier beach, though projecting but a short distance above the 

 waves, shows an unsymmetrical curve of cross section with the 

 steeper slope toward the land. 



Search 



FIG. 269. Character profiles resulting from wave 

 action upon shores. 



