Coastal landforms 1. Estuaries are places where freshwater rivers and streams flow into the ocean, mixing with the seawater. 2. A beach is the accumulation of fine sand along the coast with increasingly smaller wave effect. 3. Shoals are isles either under or above sea level as a result of sedimentation of debris from the sea bottom. 4. Wetlands are places where waters and lands meet and covered by waters occasionally or intermittently during tidal changes or floods. Together with the forest and ocean, they are known as the three major eco-systems. As wetlands can regulate flood and purify water quality, they are considered as the kidney of nature. 5. A lagoon is a shallow water area (also lakes and marshes) where the shoals and lands meet to separate the land and the sea. Lagoons in southeast coast are about 1m deep, and reclamation has taken place in the inland sections for fish farms and salt pans.
Waisanding lslet is the most famous offshore shoal in the Southwest Coast Scenic Area. Cigu Lagoon, so far the biggest in Taiwan is surrounded by three offshore lagoons, including the Dingtouer lslet, Wanziliao lslet and Chingshankang lslet. Moreover, the Wangyekang lslet, Wanziliao lslet, Beimen Lagoon, and Haomeiliao Nature Preserve are the famous and well-planned shoals and lagoons in the area.
swcoast@swcoast-nsa.gov.tw
