Tetrapod (structure)

Hello! So, a tetrapod is a structure that is designed to help protect coastlines from the waves of the ocean. Imagine you are at the beach and you see big waves coming towards the shore. These waves can be really strong and sometimes they can even cause damage to houses and other buildings near the beach.

So, people came up with an idea to build structures called tetrapods. "Tetra" means four and "pod" means foot, so tetrapods are structures that look like big four-legged animals (but they don't move).

They are usually made of concrete and placed in rows along the coastline. When the waves come in, they crash into the tetrapods and the force of the waves is spread out over many of them, instead of just hitting the shore in one big wave.

This helps to protect the beach and buildings nearby from the power of the waves. It's like having a big group of friends to help you carry a really heavy load - it's easier for everyone if the weight is spread out among more people.

So, next time you're at the beach, look out for the tetrapods and remember that they are there to help protect you!