Matthew Marajh
Presentation College Chaguanas – Form 5J
Geography SBA
Introduction: Las Cuevas is located about 8 kilometers east of Maracas Bay around the vicinity of
Port – of - Spain. The name ‘Las Cuevas’, is derived from the Spanish word for caves due to the
many caves, blow holes and arches. It’s shaped like a horse shoe a stretches for 2 miles across. These
caves and other structures were formed due to wave action and erosion (abrasion, attrition, solution
and hydraulic action).
Objective: To investigate and explain how the different coastal features of Las Cuevas are formed
via the different types of wave actions.
Methodology: this study was done on 11th October 2018 between 9:00 am to 11:00 am at Las
Cuevas bay, along the North coast of Trinidad.
(1) The bay was divided into 4 sections (A, B, C, and D).
(2) All the students were placed into groups of 6 - 7 to investigate coastal features and wave
action in Las Cuevas and how the bay was formed through that.
(3) 1 member was responsible for counting the amount of waves that crashed into the beach per
minute.
(4) 2 members placed 2 PVC pipes on the beach one on land and one in the water.
(5) 2 members tied a fishing line to each pipe and the length between them was measured with
measuring tape.
(6) Using the clinometer the gradient was measured. With an anemometer the wind speed was
checked.
(7) The results were recorded in a data sheet table.
Presentation of data
TABLE 1.0 SHOWING THE RESULTS OBTAINED IN LAS CUEVAS
Section of bay Width and Coastal features Wave frequency Other
gradient of coast observed and wave height observations
A Width~ 67 feet - Headland -Wave -Long shore
(~ 20 metres) observed with frequency ~ 7 drift moves to
Gradient~ 7.3° small notches waves per the right
-Caves on minute -Rocks placed
headland -Wave height ~ to prevent
-Cave 1 – 28.50 80cm erosion (coastal
feet deep (8.6m) management)
-Cave 2 – 25.25
feet deep (7.6m)
-Wave cut
platform
B Width~66 feet -3 Arches -Wave -Wind speed -
(~20 metres) -Blowhole 7.6m frequency ~6 0.4 metres per
Gradient~2° deep waves per second
-Stomp minute
-Notch (constructive
-8 Caves wave)
-Wave height
-Cavitation in ~48cm
rocks(coastal
erosion)
C Width~128 feet -Stomp -Wave -Long-Shore
(~ 39 metres) -Arch frequency ~7 drift moves to
Gradient~5° -Notch waves per the right
-Headland minute
-Wave-cut (constructive
platform wave)
-Stack -10 feet -Wave height
(3m) high, ~90 cm
16 feet (4.9m)
long
D Width~49 feet -Cave -Wave -Wind speed - 3
(~ 15 metres) -4 Geo frequency~8 metres per
Gradient~7° -Stomp waves per second
-Arch minute
-Wave
height~54cm
DIAGRAM 1.0 SHOWING THE BEACH PROFILE OF LAS CUEVAS
PIE CHART 1 SHOWING THE PERCENTAGE OF COASTAL
FEATURES IN LAS CUEVAS
4%
11% Caves
arches
7% notches
39% geos
wave cut platforms
stomps
14% blow holes
7%
18%
PICTURE 1.0 SHOWING AN EXAMPLE OF A CAVE IN LAS CUEVAS
PICTURE 2.0 SHOWING THE BLOW-HOLE
PICTURE 3.0 SHOWING AN EXAMPLE OF AN ARCH IN LAS CUEVAS
PICTURE 4.0 SHOWING THE HEADLAND OF LAS CUEVAS
ANALYSIS
In pie chart 1caves was the most dominant coastal feature followed by arches, geos, stomps,
wave cut platforms and notches and blowholes. There were the same amount of wave cut
platforms and notches. There was only one blowhole in Las Cuevas but there were 11 caves.
According to the data sheet, the bay had a relatively constant except in section B (2°). The
width of the coast was fairly constant in both sections A and B (around 20m) but varied a lot
in both sections C and D (39m and 15m respectively). Section C had the most variety of
coastal features and section D had the least. Section B had the most amount if coastal
features, which are mostly caves. In the survey there was a consistent wave frequency but
varying wave heights. The wind speed varied from 0.3metres per second to 0.4 metres per
second. Finally other observations include longshore drift moving to the right and erosion
resistant placed by the coastal management to prevent erosion.
DISSCUSSION
In the survey conducted in Las Cuevas, the different coastal features were formed by a
combination of hydraulic action, abrasion, attrition and solution. Abrasion refers to the
process whereby the waves throw small sand and stones to break up into smaller pieces and
the shoreline are warned down. Solution is when the water dissolves minerals and thus leads
to more erosion. Hydraulic action refers to the force of the water on the rocks eroding it.
Attrition refers to the rock particles rubbing against each other to eventually smoothen them.
However most of the coastal features such as caves had to be formed with the help of
destructive waves but Las Cuevas had constructive waves instead. This may be due to at one
point the bay had destructive waves due to changes in the environment e.g. uplift. The many
different coastal features include caves, notches, arches, geos, stomps, wave cut platforms,
and blow holes. Caves are formed when less resistant rock e.g. limestone is eroded forming a
hollow cavity. The cave may burrow through forming an arch and the roof ay collapse
forming a stomp as the remains of the arch. Materials in Las Cuevas are transported by
longshore drift; when swash waves approach the shore at oblique angles causing them to rush
up diagonally to the shore carrying it eroded materials. The backwash carries the sediments
back at a 90° to the coast producing a zig-zag pattern.
