Spit, Washington

Spit is an ancient English word that also refers to the skewers used for roasting food items; related words are spike and spire. Spits form as sand is transported by longshore drift into open water, like an inlet, river or strait. A spit may be an extension of a barrier island. Spits can extend for kilometers, but are usually short. This is Dungeness Spit, Washington, which extends into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. At approximately 9 kilometers, it's the longest spit in the United States, and it continues to grow today.