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Total miles of Mediterranean or Caribbean coastline?

  • 08-08-2011 11:25am
    #1
    muntschkin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 11 ✭✭✭ muntschkin


    Anyone know where I might find a total number of miles of Mediterranean or Caribbean coastline? I can find a figure for global coastline and for individual countries but can’t seem to find anything divided by sea / ocean.

    Thanks for any ideas.

    Edit 1: I found a figure for the Med: "The length of the Mediterranean coastline totals about 46000 km, of which 19000 km represent island coastlines." Still looking for a Carribbean figure though.


Comments

  • #2
    kraggy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,414 ✭✭✭ kraggy


    That's 6000km longer than the length of the equator, all the way around the world.

    Minus the island coastlines however, it's shorter than the equator, but still bloody long!


  • #3
    Victor
    Registered Users Posts: 77,990 ✭✭✭✭ Victor


    Length of coastline is a evasive measurement, as what might look like a straight line on a country map is a jagged line up close and may be several times longer.


  • #4
    Coles
    Registered Users Posts: 1,015 ✭ Coles


    Victor wrote: »
    Length of coastline is a evasive measurement, as what might look like a straight line on a country map is a jagged line up close and may be several times longer.
    Indeed. The lenght of any coastline is infinite. Your measurement depends on the depth of detail.


  • #5
    CajunOnTour
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 82 ✭✭✭ CajunOnTour


    The old granularity issue.

    But are you sure the lenght is infinite? :confused:

    I'd think not.....


  • #6
    marketty
    Registered Users Posts: 1,076 ✭✭✭ marketty


    Welcome to fractals. Prepare your mind for blowing.


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  • #7
    Capt'n Midnight
    Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 87,175 Mod ✭✭✭✭ Capt'n Midnight


    If measuring in miles would that not set a limit to the depth you want to go ?

    Alternatively you could choose an limit such that you get the same answer for high and low tide.


  • #8
    CajunOnTour
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 82 ✭✭✭ CajunOnTour


    Capt'n Midnight wrote: »
    Alternatively you could choose an limit such that you get the same answer for high and low tide.

    I'd say the length of the average coastline gets shorter at low tide - even as the land inside the line expands.

    Not many people know that! :rolleyes:


  • #9
    CajunOnTour
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 82 ✭✭✭ CajunOnTour


    marketty wrote: »
    Welcome to fractals. Prepare your mind for blowing.

    Prefer to blow it with something other than maths! :D

    If coastlines are infinite then they are all the same length.

    So I'm, guessing that when we measure a coast in two dimensions there is some restriction on the fractalism when you get down to atomic sizes?


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