SPECIAL FEATURES OF LAKE ERIE 481 



derived largely from the adjacent cliffs ; the beaches were built up by the 

 action of the surf and the associated longshore current. 



Excellent examples of the flying spit are found at Erie harbor (Presque 

 isle), Sandusky harbor (Cedar point), Maumee bay (Grassy point), and 

 at Long point. The cuspate foreland is represented by Turkey point. 

 Point aux Pines at Eondeau, point Pelee, Cedar point on Maiimee bay, 

 and by several minor points. In the present article the descriptions are 

 limited to the most important of these. 



Special features: Long point. — Long point is a low lying flying spit 

 composed of sands and gravel. The apex of the point lies about 21 

 miles east of the place of junction between the bar and the mainland. 

 At its widest place it is 3^ miles across. The eastern or free end lies in 

 lake Erie nearly south of Port Dover and 18 miles from shore. The 

 lakeward side of the sj)it is a continuous beach of gravel and sand. The 

 inner or bay side is covered by extensive marshes. Two prominent fore- 

 lands, Pottohawk point and Bluff point, project from the inner side out 

 into Long Point bay. These points were probably formed during the 

 earlier history of the spit and indicate that during the earlier stages of 

 its growth the point was hooked inward and progress eastward was re- 

 tarded. At the present time the northeast facing portions of the inner 

 side of the Long point are exposed to the action of waves from Long 

 Point bay. East of Pottohawk point the shore of the spit presents a 

 narrow beach; at Bluff point the lake charts show that a local shoal has 

 been formed, extending out into the bay toward the northwest. Blown 

 sand forms low ridges over the interior of the island. Most of the low 

 dunes are covered either with a thick growth of grasses and sedges or 

 with trees. 



The Long Point beach starts to swing away from the mamland about 1 

 mile east of the west town line of Walsingham township. From tliis 

 place an old line of sea-cliffs can be readily traced to Port Eowan, and 

 thence passing back of Turkey point to the main shore near Normandale. 

 Between the present beach and the old shoreline, from the Walsingham 

 town line to Port Eowan, there is an extensive swamp area partly over- 

 grown with timber. For about 4 miles east of Port Eowan the old sea- 

 cliffs are separated from the present bay only by a narrow strip of 

 swampy shore. The cutting on the cliffs is comparatively recent, and the 

 cliff faces are much fresher than 'along the swamps, both east and west. 

 From the west side of Turkey point to near Normandale the old cliff line 

 forms the base of Turkey point. Between the foot of the cliff and the 

 beach, on the point, there are wide swamp areas, open toward the west to 

 Long Point bay. 



