What geological feature results from littoral drift moving sand along the beach toward a bay?

The geological feature that results from littoral drift moving sand along the beach toward a bay is a spit. A spit forms when the sand transported by waves and currents accumulates in a long, narrow projection extending out from the shore into a body of water, typically where the coastline changes direction. The movement of sand occurs due to the prevailing currents and wave action that constantly transport sediment along the beach.

As the littoral drift moves sand, it often creates this hook-like shape, terminating in water while still being attached to the mainland at one end. Spits can sometimes create sheltered areas behind them, which may lead to the formation of lagoons or estuaries. This process exemplifies coastal dynamics and how sediment transport contributes to the development of unique landforms along coastlines.

In comparison, a delta is formed at the mouth of a river where sediments are deposited as the river meets a standing body of water, while barrier islands are coastal landforms that run parallel to the mainland and are separated by lagoons or bays. An estuary is a coastal area where freshwater from rivers meets and mixes with saltwater from the sea, distinct from sand transportation processes.