Manly Cliffs are a natural feature that were created by natural processes
The Manly cliffs are located at Manly's North Head, North Head is a headland south-east of the suburb of Manly. It is part of the Sydney Harbour National Park and is 3.85 square kilometres in area. The cliffs are 90 metres high and consist of Hawkesbury sandstone, the characteristic rock of Sydney and Manly,that has been worn by waves and eroded by wind to form the shape of these high cliffs.
One of the most common features of a coastline is a cliff. Cliffs are shaped through a combination of erosion and weathering, (the breakdown of rocks caused by weather conditions). Soft rock, for example shale and clay, erodes easily to create gentle sloping cliffs. Hard rock, for example Granite and basalt, is more resistant and erodes slowly to create steep cliffs. Weathering acts on the upper parts of the cliff and erosion wears away the base of the cliff.
One of the most common features of a coastline is a cliff. Cliffs are shaped through a combination of erosion and weathering, (the breakdown of rocks caused by weather conditions). Soft rock, for example shale and clay, erodes easily to create gentle sloping cliffs. Hard rock, for example Granite and basalt, is more resistant and erodes slowly to create steep cliffs. Weathering acts on the upper parts of the cliff and erosion wears away the base of the cliff.
The erosion of cliffs
1. Weather weakens the top of the cliff.
2. The sea attacks the base of the cliff forming a wave-cut notch.
3. The notch increases in size causing the cliff to collapse.
4. The backwash carries the rubble towards the sea forming a wave-cut platform.
5. The process repeats and the cliff continues to retreat.
The rock platform that remains can be further shaped by abrasion of rock fragments dragged back and forth by waves.