A headland, also known as a head, is a
coast
The coast, also known as the coastline or seashore, is defined as the area where land meets the ocean, or as a line that forms the boundary between the land and the coastline. The Earth has around of coastline. Coasts are important zones in n ...
al
landform, a point of land usually high and often with a sheer drop, that extends into a
body of water. It is a type of
promontory. A headland of considerable size often is called a
cape.
[Whittow, John (1984). ''Dictionary of Physical Geography''. London: Penguin, 1984, pp. 80, 246. .] Headlands are characterised by high, breaking
waves
Waves most often refers to:
* Waves, oscillations accompanied by a transfer of energy that travel through space or mass.
* Wind waves, surface waves that occur on the free surface of bodies of water.
Waves may also refer to:
Music
*Waves (ban ...
,
rocky shores
A rocky shore is an intertidal area of seacoasts where solid rock predominates. Rocky shores are biologically rich environments, and are a useful "natural laboratory" for studying intertidal ecology and other biological processes. Due to their h ...
, intense
erosion
Erosion is the action of surface processes (such as water flow or wind) that removes soil, rock, or dissolved material from one location on the Earth's crust, and then transports it to another location where it is deposited. Erosion is d ...
, and steep
sea cliff.
Headlands and
bays are often found on the same coastline. A bay is flanked by land on three sides, whereas a headland is flanked by water on three sides. Headlands and bays form on discordant coastlines, where bands of rock of alternating resistance run perpendicular to the coast. Bays form when weak (less resistant) rocks (such as
sands and
clays
Clay is a type of fine-grained natural soil material containing clay minerals (hydrous aluminium phyllosilicates, e.g. kaolin, Al2 Si2 O5( OH)4).
Clays develop plasticity when wet, due to a molecular film of water surrounding the clay par ...
) are eroded, leaving bands of stronger (more resistant) rocks (such as
chalk
Chalk is a soft, white, porous, sedimentary carbonate rock. It is a form of limestone composed of the mineral calcite and originally formed deep under the sea by the compression of microscopic plankton that had settled to the sea floor. C ...
,
limestone
Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms w ...
, and
granite
Granite () is a coarse-grained ( phaneritic) intrusive igneous rock composed mostly of quartz, alkali feldspar, and plagioclase. It forms from magma with a high content of silica and alkali metal oxides that slowly cools and solidifies un ...
) forming a headland, or
peninsula. Through the deposition of
sediment
Sediment is a naturally occurring material that is broken down by processes of weathering and erosion, and is subsequently transported by the action of wind, water, or ice or by the force of gravity acting on the particles. For example, sand ...
within the bay and the erosion of the headlands, coastlines eventually straighten out, then start the same process all over again.
List of notable headlands
Africa
*, Mauritania
*
Cap-Vert, Senegal
*
Cape Agulhas, South Africa, Africa's southernmost point
*
Cape Bojador
Cape Bojador ( ar, رأس بوجادور, trans. ''Rā's Būjādūr''; ber, ⴱⵓⵊⴷⵓⵔ, ''Bujdur''; Spanish and pt, Cabo Bojador; french: Cap Boujdour) is a headland on the west coast of Western Sahara, at 26° 07' 37"N, 14° 29' 57"W ...
, Morocco
*
Cape Correntes
Cape Correntes (sometimes also called "Cape Corrientes" in English) ( Port.: "Cabo das Correntes") is a cape or headland in the Inhambane Province in Mozambique. It sits at the southern entry of the Mozambique Channel.•
Cape Correntes was his ...
, Mozambique
*
Cape Delgado
Cape Delgado ( pt, Cabo Delgado) is a coastal promontory south of Mozambique's border with Tanzania. It is the arc-shaped delta of the Rovuma River and was created from sediment deposited by the Rovuma as it empties into the Indian Ocean. It is so ...
, Mozambique
*
Cape Juby
Cape Juby (, trans. ''Raʾs Juby'', es, link=no, Cabo Juby) is a cape on the coast of southern Morocco, near the border with Western Sahara, directly east of the Canary Islands.
Its surrounding area, including the cities of Tarfaya and Tan-T ...
, Morocco
*
Cape Malabata
__NOTOC__
Cape Malabata (french: Cap Malabata; es, Punta Malabata; ar, رأس ملباطا, ''Ras Malabata'', or ''Rās al-Manār'', "Lighthouse Cape") is a cape located about east of central Tangier, Morocco, facing the Strait of Gibraltar. T ...
, Morocco
*
Cape Spartel
Cape Spartel ( ar, رأس سبارطيل; french: Cap Spartel; ary, أشبرتال) is a promontory in Morocco about above sea level at the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar, 12 km West of Tangier. Below the cape are the Caves of Hercule ...
, Morocco
*
Cape of Good Hope, South Africa
*, Tunisia, Africa's northernmost point
Asia
*
Beirut
Beirut, french: Beyrouth is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant region. The city is situated on a peninsula at the midpoint o ...
, Lebanon
*
Cabo de Rama
Praça do Cabo de Rama is a medieval hillfort on the coast of Canacona, Goa.
History
In the 1760s, the Portuguese gained control of Cabo de Rama after the Raja of Soonda surrendered his territory to them in return for protection against Hyder Al ...
, Goa, India
*
Cape Dezhnev, Russia
*
Cape Comorin
Kanniyakumari (; , referring to Devi Kanya Kumari), also known as Cape Comorin, is a city in Kanniyakumari district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent and the southernmost city in mainland I ...
or Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, India
*
Cape Engaño, Philippines
*
Coconut Tree Hill
Coconut Tree Hill is a lateritic headland in Mirissa, Sri Lanka located adjacent to the Indian Ocean. It is a popular tourist destination in the country and is located at a headland with a coconut plantation. Coconut Tree Hill, despite being loca ...
, Mirissa, Sri Lanka
*
Indira Point, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
Europe
*
Beachy Head, England
*, Portugal, the western tip of mainland Europe
*
Cap Gris-Nez, France
*
Cape Arkona, Germany
*
Cape Emine
Cape Emine ( bg, Нос Емине ) is a headland located at the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. It is located south of Varna, north of Burgas and south of Obzor. It forms the tip of Stara Planina. Cape Emine is said to be Bulgaria's stormiest c ...
, Bulgaria
*
Cape Enniberg, Faroe Islands
*
Cape Finisterre
Cape Finisterre (, also ; gl, Cabo Fisterra, italic=no ; es, Cabo Finisterre, italic=no ) is a rock-bound peninsula on the west coast of Galicia, Spain.
In Roman times it was believed to be an end of the known world. The name Finisterre, like ...
, Galicia, Spain
*
Cape Greco
Cape Greco, also known as Capo Greco (Italian for "Greek cape"; el, Κάβο Γκρέκο), is a headland in the southeastern part of the island of Cyprus. It is at the southern end of Famagusta Bay and forms part of Ayia Napa Municipality. It ...
, Cyprus
*
Cape Kaliakra, Bulgaria
*
Cape St. Vincent
Cape St. Vincent ( pt, Cabo de São Vicente, ) is a headland in the municipality of Vila do Bispo, in the Algarve, southern Portugal. It is the southwesternmost point of Portugal and of mainland Europe.
History
Cape St. Vincent was already sac ...
/
Sagres Point
Sagres Point (', , from the Latin ''Promontorium Sacrum'' ‘Holy Promontory’) is a windswept shelf-like promontory located in the southwest Algarve region of southern Portugal. Only 4 km to the west and 3 km to the north lies Cape ...
, Portugal, the southwestern tip of mainland Europe
*
Cape Tainaron, Greece, the southern tip of mainland Europe
*
Cape Wrath
Cape Wrath ( gd, Am Parbh, known as ' in Lewis) is a cape in the Durness parish of the county of Sutherland in the Highlands of Scotland. It is the most north-westerly point in mainland Britain.
The cape is separated from the rest of the ma ...
, Scotland
*
Dungeness, England
*
Gibraltar
)
, anthem = " God Save the King"
, song = "Gibraltar Anthem"
, image_map = Gibraltar location in Europe.svg
, map_alt = Location of Gibraltar in Europe
, map_caption = United Kingdom shown in pale green
, mapsize =
, image_map2 = Gibr ...
, British Overseas Territory
*
Great Orme,
Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...
*
Land's End, Cornwall, England
*
Mull of Kintyre
The Mull of Kintyre is the southwesternmost tip of the Kintyre Peninsula (formerly ''Cantyre'') in southwest Scotland. From here, the Antrim coast of Northern Ireland is visible on a calm and clear day, and a historic lighthouse, the second ...
, Scotland
*
North Cape, Norway, the northern tip of mainland Europe
*
Pointe du Raz
The Pointe du Raz is a promontory that extends into the Atlantic from western Brittany, in France. The local Breton name is ''Beg ar Raz''. It is the western point of the ''commune'' of Plogoff, Finistère.
It is named after the ''Raz de Sein' ...
, France
*
St Bees Head, UK, the most westerly point of northern England
North America
Canada
*
Cape Chidley, Newfoundland and Labrador/Nunavut
*
Cape Columbia, Nunavut, Canada's northernmost point
*
Cape Freels
Cape Freels is a headland on the island of Newfoundland (island), Newfoundland, in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, and the location of a Cape Freels, Newfoundland and Labrador, community of the same name. This cape, located at ...
, Newfoundland and Labrador
*
Cape Norman, Newfoundland and Labrador
*
Cape Spear
Cape Spear (french: Cap d'Espoir) is a headland located on the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland near St. John's in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. At a longitude of 52°37'W, it is the easternmost point in Canada and North Am ...
, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada's easternmost point
*
Cape Tormentine, New Brunswick
Cape Tormentine is a local service district in southeastern New Brunswick, Canada. It is located on the Northumberland Strait at the Abegweit Passage, the shortest crossing between Prince Edward Island and the mainland. It once flourished as a t ...
*
Leslie Street Spit,
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the anch ...
,
Ontario
Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...
- man made landform
Greenland
*
Cape Farewell, Greenland's southernmost point
Mexico
*, Baja California Sur, Mexico
United States
*
Cape Ann
Cape Ann is a rocky peninsula in northeastern Massachusetts, United States on the Atlantic Ocean. It is about northeast of Boston and marks the northern limit of Massachusetts Bay. Cape Ann includes the city of Gloucester and the towns o ...
, Massachusetts
*
Cape Canaveral, Florida
*
Cape Charles, Virginia
*
Cape Cod
Cape Cod is a peninsula extending into the Atlantic Ocean from the southeastern corner of mainland Massachusetts, in the northeastern United States. Its historic, maritime character and ample beaches attract heavy tourism during the summer mont ...
, Massachusetts
*
Cape Fear, North Carolina
*
Cape Flattery, Washington
*
Cape Hatteras, North Carolina
*
Cape Henlopen, Delaware
*
Cape Henry
Cape Henry is a cape on the Atlantic shore of Virginia located in the northeast corner of Virginia Beach. It is the southern boundary of the entrance to the long estuary of the Chesapeake Bay.
Across the mouth of the bay to the north is Cape Ch ...
, Virginia
*
Cape May, New Jersey
*
Cape Mendocino, California
*
Cape Prince of Wales, Alaska
*
Cascade Head
Cascade Head is a headland and UNESCO biosphere reserve and United States Forest Service Experimental Forest. It is situated southwest of Portland, Oregon on the Oregon Coast between Lincoln City and Neskowin. Cascade Head Preserve is a Natur ...
, Oregon
*
Heceta Head, Oregon
*
Hilton Head
Hilton Head Island, sometimes referred to as simply Hilton Head, is a South Carolina Lowcountry, Lowcountry resort town and barrier island in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. It is northeast of Savannah, Georgia, and southwest of C ...
, South Carolina
*
Marin Headlands
The Marin Headlands is a hilly peninsula at the southernmost end of Marin County, California, United States, located just north of San Francisco across the Golden Gate Bridge, which connects the two counties and peninsulas. The entire area is p ...
, California
*
Mount Mitchill
Mount Mitchill in Atlantic Highlands, Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States, at , is the highest headland of the United States east coast south of Maine. , New Jersey
*
North Shore, Lake Superior, Minnesota
*
Point Reyes
Point Reyes (, meaning "Point of the Kings") is a prominent cape and popular Northern California tourist destination on the Pacific coast. Located in Marin County, it is approximately west-northwest of San Francisco. The term is often applie ...
, California
*
West Quoddy Head, Maine
Oceania
Australia
*
Cape Leeuwin
Cape Leeuwin is the most south-westerly (but not most southerly) mainland point of the Australian continent, in the state of Western Australia.
Description
A few small islands and rocks, the St Alouarn Islands, extend further in Flinders B ...
, Western Australia
*
Cape York Peninsula
Cape York Peninsula is a large peninsula located in Far North Queensland, Australia. It is the largest unspoiled wilderness in northern Australia.Mittermeier, R.E. et al. (2002). Wilderness: Earth’s last wild places. Mexico City: Agrupación ...
, Queensland
*
South East Cape, Tasmania
*
South West Cape, Tasmania
*
Sydney Heads, New South Wales
New Zealand
*
Cape Egmont
*
Cape Foulwind
Cape Foulwind is a headland on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand, overlooking the Tasman Sea. It is located west of the town of Westport. There is a lighthouse located on a prominent site on the headland. A walkway beginning ...
*
Cape Reinga
, type =Cape
, photo = Cape Reinga, Northland, New Zealand, October 2007.jpg
, photo_width = 270px
, photo_alt =
, photo_caption =
, map = New Zealand
, map_width = 270px
...
*
East Cape
*
North Cape
*
Young Nick's Head
Young Nick's Head is a headland at the southern end of Poverty Bay in New Zealand's North Island. The area is the landing place of the Horouta and Te Ikaroa-a-Rauru waka which carried Māori settlers to the region around 1350 AD. In Māori, the p ...
United States (Hawaii)
*
Diamond Head, Hawaii
*
Koko Head
Koko Head is the headland that defines the eastern side of Maunalua Bay along the southeastern side of the Island of Oahu in Hawaii. On its western slope is the community of Portlock, a part of Hawaii Kai. Koko Head (at 642 ft or 196 m) is an ...
, Hawaii
South America
*
Cape Froward, Chile
*
Cape Horn
Cape Horn ( es, Cabo de Hornos, ) is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile, and is located on the small Hornos Island. Although not the most southerly point of South America (which are the Diego Ramí ...
, Chile, South America's southernmost point
*
Cape Virgenes, Argentina
See also
*
Cape (geography)
*
Headland-bay beach
A logarithmic spiral beach is a type of beach which develops in the direction under which it is sheltered by a headland, in an area called the ''shadow zone''. It is shaped like a logarithmic spiral when seen in a map, plan view, or aerial photogr ...
References
{{Authority control
Coastal and oceanic landforms
Coastal geography
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hi:रास (भूमि प्रकार)
tr:Burun (coğrafya)