Long Shore Drift

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Long Shore Drift is a current that runs parallel to the shoreline or beach. It is created as waves strike the beach at an angle and water is push along the shoreline. Every swimmer as experienced it as they enter the water from their beach towel. As they play in the water they quickly notice that they are drifting away from their towel location. Trying to swim against it to return to the towel is usually a futile effort! Swimmers often try to walk against the current with mix results. They experience water rushing past their bodies as they move against the current. Usually, swimmers will exit the water far from their point of entry and have to walk back on the beach to their towel.