3.1.2.3 Coastal Landscape development- Fjords and Rias.

Submergent Features

Rias are created by rising sea levels drowning river vallleys. The floodplain of a river will vanish beneath the rising waters, but on the edges of uplands only the middle and lower course valleys will be filled with sea water leaving the higher land dry and producing this feature. 

In Devon and Cornwall sea level rose and drowned the valleys of the rivers flowing off Dartmoor and the uplands of Cornwall. Good examples are the Fowey estury in Cornwall and the Kingsbridge Estury in south Devon. Rias have long section and cross profile which is typical of a river valley, and usually a dendritic system of drainage. 

Fjords are drowned glacial valleys typically…