Write the importance of tides

The importance of tides are:

• They can cause a change in landforms of the Earth. While they can destroy coastlines, they also help in the formation of creeks and inlets.

   

• Strong tides help in the building of lower flood plains of rivers. These are very fertile.

   

• Since the debris is swept away by tides, they help to keep the harbours clean.

   

• In cold countries, tides bring in salt water to the shore and their continuous movement prevents the harbour from becoming ice bound.

   

• The low lying areas of the sea coast during high tides trap water which is used for the manufacturing of salt. In India, along the west coast, salt is manufactured in this manner.

   

• The alternate rise and fall of the tides help the fisherman to sail out and return back to the coast with the tides.

   

• Tidal energy is fast becoming an important non conventional source of energy. They are used in the production of electricity along the Gulf of Kutch and in the state of Gujarat.