Bay

Less resistant rock, such as clay, is worn back more quickly, producing an inlet called a bay. Resistant rock remains projecting into the sea as a headland.

Headlands and bays develop where neighbouring sections of coastline erode at different rates. On a discordant coastline, alternating bands of more and less resistant rock meet the coast roughly at right angles.

The softer rock is removed more quickly, making the coastline retreat inland to form a bay. The harder rock retreats more slowly and remains projecting into the sea as a headland. The contrast in erosion rates therefore produces an uneven coastline rather than a straight one.

A bay is an inlet where the coastline curves inland. They can form where alternating bands of more resistant and less resistant rock meet the shoreline at roughly right angles. This arrangement is called a discordant coastline.