488 
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. 1). 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 FI ills 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 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 eases 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. 
