description Maplin Spit Overview
Maplin Spit is a tidal sandbank in the outer Thames Estuary, off Foulness Island in Essex, England. It lies beside the Maplin Sands, an area of intertidal mudflats and sands that became associated with a proposed third airport for London. The airport scheme, usually called the Maplin airport project, was abandoned in 1974. Maplin Spit is therefore of interest both as an estuarine landform and as part of the history of aviation planning in southeast England.
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Where is Maplin Spit?
Maplin Spit is a tidal sandbank in the outer Thames Estuary, off Foulness Island in Essex, England. It lies beside the wider Maplin Sands mudflat and sand area.
What was the Maplin Sands airport proposal?
Maplin Sands became associated with a proposed third airport for London in the 1970s. The scheme was usually called the Maplin Development Authority airport, but it was abandoned before construction.
Is Maplin Spit part of Maplin Sands?
Maplin Spit is a specific sandbank beside the broader Maplin Sands area. Maplin Sands includes extensive intertidal mudflats and sands in the outer Thames Estuary.
Why is Maplin Spit important for navigation?
As a tidal sandbank near the shipping approaches to the Thames, Maplin Spit creates shallow water and changing depths. Mariners therefore rely on current charts and navigation information rather than treating its position as fixed.
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