Gat (landform)

A tidal inlet (also: Seegat, diminutive form: Gatje ) is a flow channel which, eroded by the constant back and forth flowing bodies of water, such as the tides. It is usually a relatively narrow - but deeper (up to 30 meters) - passage between land masses (islands and peninsulas ) or flat spots in the Wadden Sea as well - less deep - on coastal lagoon without tide. The name is derived from the Low German and Dutch word Gat = hole.

Due to the comparatively large water masses that flow fairly quickly through the tidal inlet, there is a strong erosion, which leads both to a depression over the remaining seabed as endangered and the neighboring islands. When pushing with the ebb tide the water masses from the tidal flats behind the islands back to the open sea, they run back quickly through the narrow tidal inlet. But then the width of the open sea does on and the water masses lose their areal spread of speed. This contact in this area seaward the entrained particles of sand and silt from and form the Ebbdelta with the shallowest points between the islands. These sandbanks are often called Plate. Where the husband fairway about this often extends in an arc between the islands flat line runs, is the so-called Barre. It is responsible for shipping the flattest place with the channel, at the same time it is also the lowest point of the slimmest connection between the islands. Similarly, land-side forms the flood delta.

In the Seegatten a shipping lane is marked on the open sea from the water and Schifffahrtsamt most. The region of the bar is the most dangerous place, here is Stromkabbelung and, especially in case of power from the wind, to expect very dangerous underground lakes.

Even passages between inner and outer coastal waters, such as at the ends of spits the lagoons or in the Bodden coast are referred to as tidal inlet.