A coastal image featured on a United States postal stamp.A coast is that part of an island or continent that borders an ocean, gulf, sea, or large lake. In geology and geography, the coast extends inland from the shoreline. The terms coast and coastal refer to the condition of being located on or near a coast. For example, Los Angeles is a coastal city; California, Oregon, and Washington are on the West Coast.
Most of the world's population lives near to a coast to take adavantage of sea reources such as fish, but more importantly to participate in seaborn trade with other nations. Major cities grow up around good harbours and ports are built to take advantage of this. Countries that are landlockedA landlocked country is one that has no coastline. There are 42 landlocked countries in the world. Significance of being landlocked Historically being landlocked was regarded as a disadvantageous position. It cuts the country off from sea resources such a and have no coast often at a disadvantage with overseas trade being more difficult.
Coasts are also an important draw for tourists, especially those with beachA beach or strand is a geological formation consisting of loose rock particles such as sand, shingle, or cobble along the shoreline of a body of water. Components Some geologists consider a beach to be just this shoreline feature of deposited material, bues and warm water. In island nationAn island nation is a country that is wholly confined to an island or islands. Forty-seven of the world's countries are island nations, including most of the smaller ones. Island nations can be divided in two approximate groups. There are those that are ls like those of the South Pacific and Caribbean, tourism by those who come to enjoy the coast is central to the economy. Coasts are popular destinations because of recreational activities such as swimmingSwimming is the method by which humans (or other animals) move themselves through water. Swimming is a popular recreational activity, particularly in hot countries and in areas with natural watercourses. Swimming is also a competitive sport. There are man, fishingFishing is both the recreation and sport of catching fish (for food or as a trophy), and the commercial fishing industry of catching or harvesting seafood (either fish or other aquatic life-forms, such as shellfish). Fishing is done in a river, canal, lak, surfingSee World Wide Web for "surfing" the web; see also Wind surfing Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. Surfing is a popular recreational activity and sport in which individuals are propelled across the water by the force of waves, whilst standing on, predominantly, GRP ("f, boatingBoating is the activity of travelling by boat. In particular, it refers to the recreational use of boats, typically focussed on the travelling itself, as opposed to activities just using the boat, such as fishing or waterskiing. Even so, it encompasses a, and sun bathing. Many also enjoy the salt air by the sea coast, which some consider to have health benefits.
The coast, especially for isolated nations such as the United Kingdom or the United States is often a crucial defensive frontier, both for warding off armies but also smugglers and illegal migrants. Coastal defenses have thus long been erected in many nations. Most coastal countries also have some form of coast guard.
The term coast can be used for large lakes, but lake shore is more common. For a river the equivalent of a coast is a river bank .
1 Types of coast
