Kystlandskapet

Kystlandskapet refers to the coastal landscape where land meets sea, shaped by tides, waves, sediment transport, and climate. It encompasses a range of features, from sandy beaches and dunes to rocky cliffs, tidal flats, estuaries, and archipelagos. The landscape is highly dynamic, with seasonal and storm-driven changes that influence erosion, deposition, and shoreline configuration.

In temperate regions, glacial history has left features such as fjords and outwash plains; along open coasts, longshore drift and wave action create beaches, spits, and barrier islands. Tidal systems create estuaries and mudflats. Coastal vegetation, such as salt marshes and dune grasses, stabilizes sediments and supports wildlife.

The coastal zone hosts diverse habitats with high productivity: intertidal zones, shallow coastal waters, eelgrass beds, kelp forests in certain areas, and bird roosting sites. It supports commercially important fisheries and a variety of marine and terrestrial species.

Coastal areas are centers for settlements, ports, aquaculture, tourism, and culture. They face pressures from erosion, sea-level rise, storms, pollution, and habitat loss. Management approaches include coastal zoning, protected areas, dune restoration, seawalls, and nature-based solutions.