What is a wave-cut platform?

A wave-cut platform is a coastal geological feature, formed when ocean waves erode the rock at the base of a cliff, leaving a protruding area at the top and a notched area below it. They are also referred to as abrasion platforms.

Wave-cut platforms are more likely to develop when the cliff is made of softer stone that quickly erodes when exposed to ocean waves and the sand contained in them. A cliff made of very solid rock, such as granite, is more resistant to abrasion from the sand and surf and may not develop a wave-cut platform at all.