Coast Line.

The eastern sea board of the Province is formed generally by low hills and sandy beaches, interrupted by bold headlands where the harder rocks run out to sea. On the south, low cliffs run from the Nuggets to Preservation Inlet, except between the Mataura and Jacob rivers, where the Southland plains form the coast line. As might be expected the sea deepens more rapidly on the west coast than on the east, but contrary to expectation the south coast is shallower than either. The 100 fathom line keeps at an average distance of 25 miles from the east coast as far as the Nuggets, when it sweeps away south and includes Stewart Island and the Snares. Along the west coast little is known, but the depth seems variable. Foveaux Strait is nowhere more than 25 fathoms in depth, and an elevation of 130 feet would join Stewart Island on to the main land.