Cuspate Forelands
Cuspate Forelands are accretionary features, which occur on many coastlines of the world; Cape Kennedy (Cape Canaveral) on the east coast of the United States and Dungeness on the south coast of Britain being but two of the more well-known examples (King, 1972). While they vary considerably in shape and size they are generally triangular in outline with the base attached to the coastline and the apex facing the open sea or ocean. Although similar in overall shape, cuspate forelands must not be confused with cuspate spits; the former are cuspate forms which have grown by progradation, usually with nested shore-parallel beach ridges. Cuspate forelands are related to beaches, tombolos, spits, and barriers but whereas the related accretionary features tend to smooth out the coastal outline cuspate forelands accentuate coastal irregularities.