Bight (geography)

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A stretch of coastline of the Great Australian Bight

In geography, a bight is a bend or curve in a coastline, river, or other geographical feature.[1] It typically indicates a large, open bay, often only slightly receding.[2] It is distinguished from a sound by being shallower. Traditionally, explorers defined a bight as a bay that could be sailed out of on a single tack in a square-rigged sailing vessel, regardless of the direction of the wind (typically meaning the apex of the bight is less than 25 degrees from the edges).

Notable bights

References

  1. ^ "Definition of bight in English". Oxford Dictionary. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 9 August 2016.
  2. ^ "What is a bight?". National Ocean Service. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 9 August 2016.