Coastal and Oceanic Landform (20.Cuspate Foreland)

                                                                                                                                       Back to Coastal and Oceanic Landform

A Cuspate foreland, solidified by vegetation

•  Cuspate forelands showing a wide range of form and occurrence have been described on accretion coasts from many parts of the world (Davies 1972; King 1972).

• Cuspate foreland is thought to form where a long-term balance, or near balance, exists between two or more opposing, but constructional, coastal forces. These forces may be either alongshore currents-drift-aligned features (Zenkovich 1959, 1967).

• Cuspate forelands,known as ;

                                                      Cuspate barriers
                                                      Nesses

• Geographical features found on coastlines & lakeshores.

• Created primarily by long shore drift.

Point Pelee cuspate foreland location

•  Formed by accretion and pro-gradation of sand & shingle.

• They extend outwards from the shoreline in a triangular shape.

• Some Cuspate forelands estabilised by vegetation.

• Others may migrate down the shoreline.

• Some cuspate forelands provide an important habitat for many flora and fauna.

• Where longshore drift occurs in opposite directions, two spits merge into a triangular protrusion along a coastline/ lakeshore.

• Their formation dependent on dominant & prevailing winds. 

• Formation can also occur when waves are diffracted around a barrier.

• Cuspate forelands  form coastlines & along lakeshores.