Kustlandskap

Kustlandskap, or coastal landscape, refers to the landscapes along a coastline and the adjacent nearshore zone. It includes natural features such as rocky shores, beaches, cliffs, dunes, archipelagos, estuaries and wetlands, as well as human-modified coastlines. The term is used in physical geography, ecology and landscape planning to describe the dynamic interface between land and sea.

Geomorphology and processes: Coastlines are shaped by waves, wind, tides, currents and sediment supply. In the Baltic and North Sea regions, postglacial rebound and historical sea-level change have produced a mosaic of shores—rocky coasts, sandy beaches, dune systems and tidal flats. Local geology—bedrock type and sediment availability—determines whether a coast is rugged or smooth.

Ecology: Kustlandskap hosts diverse habitats, including rocky shores, sandy beaches, dunes, salt marshes and eelgrass beds. It supports salt-tolerant vegetation, seabirds, migratory species and a range of invertebrates and fish linked to estuarine and nearshore habitats. Seasonal changes influence community composition and productivity.

Human use and management: Coasts are areas of fishing, transport, tourism and settlement. Management aims to balance economic activity with habitat protection, erosion control and flood risk mitigation. Many coasts are protected as nature reserves or national parks, and planning often addresses coastal erosion, storm surge and climate-change impacts.

Regional characteristics: In Sweden and the Baltic region the kustlandskap features include archipelagos along the Stockholm area, rocky shores and skerries in Bohuslän, and limestone coasts with rauk formations on Gotland and Öland. Coastlines vary with latitude, geology and climate, yet share a dynamic, ever-changing relationship with the sea.