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What is a Bay?

Answer – A bay is a body of water that is partially surrounded by land. 

Explanation:

Bays lie between land and larger bodies of water such as seas, lakes and oceans. Along the sections where they meet land, the land curves inward, partially surrounding the water of the bay, and thus defining the geographical feature. 

Image of a bay
Photo credit: Tandya Rachmat via Unsplash

The largest bay in the world is the Bay of Bengal which lies along the eastern coastline of India and connects to the Indian Ocean. There are several bays along the North American coastline that meet the Atlantic Ocean such as the New York Bay and Biscayne Bay. 

Bays are formed due to a variety of reasons, the most common of which are the effects of plate tectonics, overflowing coastlines and coastal erosion. However, the shapes of bays are such that they provide shelter from the relatively rough open waters of oceans, seas and rivers. Thus, they have become prominent sites of commerce and other human settlements and activities.


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