Region

Region is the basic unit of geographic study, of an area on earth's surface defined by certain unifying characters and not necessarily definite boundaries. These characteristics may be human, physical, or cultural. Some examples of phisical characteristics of Makaha Beach would include coral reef, ciffs, and a sandy and rocky shore.

Sandy Area Picture by Chloe S. You can see that Makaha Beaech is definately a sandy shore beach. On the right and left sides of the beach there are rocky areas, but between them there is a sandy shore stretching for about 3/4 of a mile. This area of the beach is reshaped everyday multipule times by currents, waves, and tides beacuse of the grainy sand. The sand is made from rocks being crushed and broken down into small particles of sand. Beaches are fragile, short-term land features that are damaged easily by humann activities and weather. In this section of the beach you can easily find birds, fishes, crabs, microscopic oraginisms in the sand, and more.

Rocky Areas

Picture by Chloe S.
This picture shows that one unique aspect of Makaha Beach is that it is a sandy shore beach as well as a rockshore beach. These rocks are located on the left side of the beach, when facing the water.

Picture by Chloe S.
This picture gives you a closer look at the left side of the beach. In this picture you are also able to see the coral reef located in this area as well as the cliffs.

Rocks, cliffs, and coral reef are the most common features of a rocky shoreline. Waves constanly crash upon these three features, the sediment in these waves grind against them slowly wearing them away. This is the reason why the rocks lining the water are much more rounded and smooth then the ones elsewhere. This area is home to many creatures and serves as a great snorkeling spot. On this side of the beach there is also a trail to walk briefly into the small forest like area that has grown on the mountian.

Picture by Chloe S.
On the left side of Makaha Beach, facing the water, it quickly turns into a rocky shore beach. This picture also displays a good example of coral reef.

The creatures who live here must be able to adapt easily to the environnent because this area experiences drastic changes multipule times throughout the day. This area is exposed during low tides and hidden beneth water during high tides, which would be called a tide pool. These tide pools and rocks contain an abundance of food for marine life to survive off of.

In this area there are three main sections, the upper interetidal zone, the mid-intertidal zone, and the lower intertidal zone. In these three zones different creatures live depending on what they can do to survive. Examples of creatures who live in these areas include crabs, periwinkle snails, alage, fish, sea cucumbers, sea urchins, and more.