What is a Spit?

A spit is a long narrow accumulation of sand or shingle. One end of the spit is connected to the land and the other end is open to the sea or across a river estuary. Many spits have hooked or curved ends.

When do they occur?

When the coastline suddenly changes shape

Areas where long shore drift moves large amount of material along the beach

Where the sea is relatively shallow and becomes progressively more sheltered

Case Studies

Spurn Head, Kingston Upon Hull, Yorkshire, Holderness Coast

Dungeness Spit, Strait of Juan de Fuca

Other Types of Spit

Double Spit

Hooked (Re-curved) Spit

 - formed from a beach of a pre existing spit or bar. Usually by a river or storm. E.g. Christ Church Habour, Dorset and Laudhelm Beach, Maine.