Geo

Shetlopedia - The Shetland Encyclopaedia

Eshaness Geos from the space

Papa Stour Geos with Christie's Hole from the space

Geos (from Norse gya) are commonly defined as narrow and deep clefts in the cliff face which are excavated by marine erosion along a line of structural weakness in the rock. There development may be promoted by roof collapse of narrow sea caves.

The main difference to gloup development is based in the fact that the development of geos starts from the cliff face at the sea front and not from a somehow collapsed feature in the back of the cliff face. Nevertheless, both forms of coastal development may be observed in close neighbourhood and sometimes working together on the same line of structural weakness.