ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Jetty

A jetty is like a wall that is built in the water near the shore. It is made up of rocks or concrete blocks that are piled together to form a straight line. Imagine that you are playing with Legos, and you stack a lot of blocks on top of each other, making a long wall.

Now, why would we build a wall in the water? Well, a jetty has a very important job. It is built to protect the beach or the harbor from the ocean waves. You know how sometimes the waves at the beach can be really big and strong? Well, they can erode the sand and wash it away. Also, boats and ships coming in and out of a harbor can get damaged by waves and rough water.

A jetty helps to break up those big waves and slow them down before they reach the beach or the harbor. Imagine you are playing with water in your bathtub, and you build a barrier with your toys to prevent the water from splashing around and making a mess. That's what a jetty does for the beach or harbor.

Jetties can also create a calm spot on the water where boats can safely dock, and people can swim without worrying about the waves. So, it's like having a playground on the water, but with safety rules to protect everyone.

In summary, a jetty is like a wall built in the water to protect the beach or harbor from strong waves. It breaks up the waves and creates a calm area where boats can dock, and people can swim safely.