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Asteep coast[1] is a stretch ofcoastline where themainland descends abruptly into the sea. There is a sharp transition from the land to sea as opposed to that on aflat coast where the land descends gradually seawards. The height of the land on a steep coast is well abovesea level.
Most steep coast are rockycliffed coasts (also called abrasion coasts), where theerosion processes of wave action result in a steep declivity. Another type of steep coast is thefjord which is formed when aglacial valley lies partially under water as a result of a rise in sea levels. InNorway,New Zealand orAlaska there are fjords whose almost vertical sides tower over 1,000 metres above the water and plunge 300 metres below it.
Onvolcanic islands the sea can enter thecaldera and the face of thevolcanic pipe can form a steep coastline. The best-known example of that isSantorini in the archipelago of theCyclades in Greeces.Fira, the main town of the island, lies on the rim of the caldera which is around 300 metres above the sea and drops below it for another 200 metres.
