The term littoral refers to the coast or shore, that is, the land strip that borders the sea. At the same time, the word littoral is part of physical geography, since it is a geographical concept.
Coastal as a term that refers to the coast only indicates one aspect, the place that acts as a border between land and sea. However, each coastline has its particular geographical characteristics. In this sense, there are coastlines formed by large stretches of sand (the sandbanks), by cliffs, as well as by a bay, a delta, a gulf and other coastal geographical features. In fact, the coastal relief presents a great variety of forms.
The economic dimension
As it is an area that borders the sea, in general the coastlines have a strategic value in the economy of a country. It should not be forgotten that ports are decisive enclaves for commercial relations. In this sense, it must also be remembered that the coastal places have historically been the areas with the most economic and cultural projection: Athens and Alexandria in ancient times or New York, Barcelona and Buenos Aires in the contemporary world.
The coast and the interior become antagonistic terms. The former is associated with prosperity and the exchange of products, while the latter is linked to depopulation and isolation. This idea is clearly appreciated in many countries. For example, in Spain (the coastline has a high population density and the interior shows a gradual reduction in population).
Sun and beach tourism
Tourism is a complex phenomenon with different faces. One of them is sun and beach holiday tourism, which must logically be located on the coast. Its main attractions are the good weather and the attractiveness of the beaches.
Tourism experts agree on the two sides of the majority of coastlines with a tourist projection. There is a friendly and positive side, characterized by the economic boom, leisure, the cosmopolitan atmosphere and, in general, a whole series of opportunities. However, there is a less favorable side, since the coastline linked to sun and beach tourism is related to a series of inconveniences: urban degradation, environmental problems, water supply, overcrowding or security problems in certain areas. .
Photo: iStock - Martin Dimitrov
