Coastline

/ˈkoʊstˌlaɪn/ noun

Definition

The outline or boundary where land meets the sea or ocean.

Etymology

Compound of 'coast' (from Old French 'coste', meaning 'rib, side') and 'line' (from Latin 'linea'). The combined term emerged in the 19th century as cartography became more precise.

Kelly Says

Measuring coastlines reveals one of geography's most fascinating puzzles - the closer you look, the longer they become, a phenomenon known as the coastline paradox that helped develop fractal geometry.

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