Types of bars

Types of bars

Bars- a bar refers to a ridge of sand, mud, gravel, and shingle deposited off shore and lies parallel to the coast.




  • Bars are formed on gently sloping coasts and irregular shorelines.
  • The Formation of a bar is related to the formation of a barrier beach where waves moving or drifting materials to the shore break offshore and drop the materials being carried under the water.
  • Repeated deposition leads to the accumulation and formation of an embankment of sand called a bar separated from the coast by a lagoon.

Types of bars

Bay bar –this is a ridge of sandy material joining the land at both ends in a bay. Bay bar is Formed where a spit is built across a bay continues to grow lengthwise until it is attached to two headlands enclosing a lagoon and marshes. For example Lake Nabugabo enclosed by Lwamunda swamp.

Offshore sand bar– it applied to temporary submerged sandbar. Formed on gently sloping coasts where waves break off shore and back wash deposit materials off shore.




Repeated deposition builds an embankment of sand off the coast called off shore sand bar found at Tanga along the coast of Tanzania and Lamu on the Kenyan coast.

The expanse of seawater enclosed between the offshore bar and the mainland is called a sound.

Fore shore sand bar– formed by constant accumulation of sand causing offshore sand bars to rise above the water surface.

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