ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Breakwater (structure)

A breakwater is like a big wall or barrier that is built in the water near the shore of the beach. Its purpose is to protect the beach and the people who visit it from the strong waves and currents of the ocean.

Imagine you have a sandbox at home, and you build a wall around it to keep the sand inside. Just like that, a breakwater is built to keep the water, waves, and currents from coming onto the beach and causing damage.

Breakwaters are usually made of big blocks of concrete or rocks and are built parallel to the shore. They can be long or short, depending on how much space needs protection. The waves that hit the breakwater are slowed down, or even stopped, which makes the water calmer on the other side of the wall.

People can enjoy swimming, boating, and other water activities in the protected area because the water is usually much gentler. Additionally, breakwaters prevent erosion of the beach, which is when the sand washes away and leaves a steep and unsafe drop-off.

In conclusion, breakwaters are like big walls or barriers built in the ocean to protect the beach and people from strong waves and currents. They are made of concrete or rocks and keep the water calm in a protected area, making it safe for people to swim and enjoy other water activities.
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