Bar - GCSE Geography Definition

In GCSE Geography, a 'bar' is a landform created by the deposition of sand or sediment. A bar typically forms offshore, parallel to the coastline. Bars develop when waves transport sediment along the coast through the process of longshore drift, eventually building up to form a ridge that can extend across a bay or river mouth. As material continues to deposit, the bar can create a barrier between the open sea and a lagoon or harbour, influencing tidal patterns and affecting coastal ecosystems. Understanding bars is important for studying coastal dynamics and the impact of natural processes on human activities along the shoreline.