Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Geography of the Tidal Flats

The Great Tidal Flats
A massive mudflat, mostly submerged at high tide and revealed at low, stretching for many many miles. It is home to a myriad of crustaceans, various species of mollusks, a proliferance of sea birds, some starfish, and lots and lots of kelp. 

Korean Mudflats
Like this but really really big

The Flats
The low lying muddy areas that submerge at high tide. At low tide the area is picked by human and animal alike in search of mollusks and kelp to consume. Driftwood is also collected. This is where the families's great Siege Crabs do battle over territory disputes. Each family has a particular section of the mudflats claimed as their territory and hold the sole foraging rights to it.

The Rocky Shelves
Sparse, rock outcroppings ranging in size from a house to a ballpark. Here is where the families and their crab-steeds shelter at high tide. Rest is had and freshwater is collected. Many seabirds keep their nests here. It is a neutral space, little conflict happens here.

The Tides
Daily life flows to the tune of the tide. During the Morning High Tide people awaken, the great crabs stir, and preparations are made for the day's activities. During the Evening High Tide people rest and the night shifts awaken to ready for the nights low tide.
The families maintain baroque tidal calendars that measure the seasonal fluctuations.

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