1.6 The Coastal Zone
The Coastal Zone is an eastern region of South Carolina. It borders the Atlantic Ocean. It is also called the coast. This region is made up of the land along the ocean and stretches inland ten miles. The land has many beaches with sand dunes. It is also made up of barrier islands. Barrier islands are small islands that protect the coast during storms. The islands keep the land from eroding, or wearing away. The Coastal Zone is also made up of marshes. A marsh is soft, wet, low-lying land. Many types of tall grasses grow there. These marshes were used for growing rice in the 1700s. Today many tourists visit this region because of the beaches, golf courses, and historic places.