Tide pools (in the USA) also known as tidal pools, or in the UK, Australia, etc, rock pools, are intertidal pools of seawater which often occur on rocky shores. These are only exposed when the tide goes out.
Tide pools can either be small and shallow, or larger and quite deep. The smaller ones are often found far up on the shore, and the larger ones are often found nearer to the ocean. Tide pools form as the tide goes out over a rocky shore. Ocean water stays put in depressions in the rocky substrate, and these turn into isolated pools as the tide retreats.
The changing of the tides twice a day (or only once a day in some areas) replenishes the seawater in what otherwise might become a stagnant pool.
The area that is covered by high tide and exposed by low tide is called the intertidal zone, or foreshore. This area is often further divided into different zones based on the life forms that live there.
See also
British Isles rockpool life
External links
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