A coastline is perceived as bays alternating with promontories. The island is surrounded by rocky promontories and shoals, strong cross-currents and shark-infested waters. The buttes are the first promontories along the trail coming from the east. Heavily defended settlements on coastal and inland promontories were established. Book XIV covers geography, describing the Earth, islands, promontories, mountains and caves. When rounded by glacial action, smaller rock promontories may be referred to as rognons. It includes a series of promontories that reach the vast floodplain of the Sangro. To the southeast lay a variety of small promontories, called the Grosser- and Kleiner-Spitzberge. The distributions of unconformities display an asymmetric pattern in relation to the promontories. However, some places such as Clearwater have promontories that rise above the water. At high, it is one of the highest promontories in the world. The effects of the New York and Virginia promontories together produced the Catskill Delta complex. According to Paul the Deacon, the site was the otherwise unidentifiable "Transductine promontories". Others are sourced out from promontories with special features and for special purpose.