ABSTRACT
A coastal zone, in general, includes parts of the continent under direct maritime influence. Its weather, vegetation, wildlife, and soils are different from those of non-coastal areas. The coastal water and its biota are totally different in appearance. The water is salty and rises and falls with the tide. A biophysical boundary can be defined in terms of natural features: biological, geological, physical, or a combination thereof. These features can include drainage basins, flood plains, dune formations, ecosystems, and ridges of coastal mountain ranges.
