North America . aphy are suggested, anyobservant person can apply them for himself and thus beable to read the history as well as admire the beauties ofseacoast scenery. It is not necessary, therefore, to attemptto present a detailed account of the coasts of North Americafrom a purely geographical point of view; there are certainresults of the processes just referred to, however, whichare of wide-reaching economic, and especially of com-mercial interest. From Central America northward to Cape Cod therocks bordering the sea are soft or easily soluble, and theadjacent land of low relief. Through
North America . aphy are suggested, anyobservant person can apply them for himself and thus beable to read the history as well as admire the beauties ofseacoast scenery. It is not necessary, therefore, to attemptto present a detailed account of the coasts of North Americafrom a purely geographical point of view; there are certainresults of the processes just referred to, however, whichare of wide-reaching economic, and especially of com-mercial interest. From Central America northward to Cape Cod therocks bordering the sea are soft or easily soluble, and theadjacent land of low relief. Throughout this section thework of the sea is mostly constructive, and the margin ofthe land is sheltered by sand-bars from the attack of wavesand currents. Where the waves of the open ocean do reachthe land, as on the coast of New Jersey, the sea-cliffs arelow and the topography of a mild type. Very generally,as along the coast of Mexico and Texas, and from Floridato Long Island, there are long narrow bars adjacent to. V ft) Cape Hatteras % V V »C»L| , ? Fie. 6.—A portion of the Atlantic coast oi the Unjted Stat 36 NORTH AMERICA the shore, with lagoons intervening between them and themainland. These features are well illustrated on the accom-panying map (Fig. 6) of a portion of the Atlantic coastwhere long narrow bars, sometimes forming skeleton capes,are a characteristic feature. On the middle Atlantic coastof the United States the prevailing winds blow southwardand there is a general southward flow of the shore currents,which carry with them the sand on the beaches and interesting fact in this connection, pointed out by Shaler, is that although the sands are continually be-ing moved they are not worn out. After the sand-grainshave been reduced to a certain size they retain films ofwater which separate them one from another, and act ascushions which prevent the grains from coming in con-tact, thus greatly retarding further comminution. But forthe protection thus aff
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookidnorthamerica, bookyear1904
