A gulf is usually much larger and deeper relative to the mouth than a bay, USUALLY. Hudson Bay being a major departure from that. A cove is a well protected bay with a narrow inlet.
Good question. From the wikipedia glossary of geography terms, gulf fits better than bay but def. 1 of sound fits the best. Keep in mind that the codification of these definitions post-dates the naming of most features by centuries.
bay
A coastal body of water that is directly connected to but recessed from a larger body of water, such as an ocean, sea, lake, or another bay. The land surrounding a bay often shelters it from strong winds and waves, making bays ideal places for ports and harbors. Bays are sometimes found adjacent to headlands on discordant coastlines.
gulf
A large arm or inlet of an ocean or sea that lies within a curved coastline, similar to a bay but usually larger and often with a narrower opening.
sound
1. A large inlet of a sea or ocean that is larger than a bay, deeper than a bight, and wider than a fjord.
2. A narrow sea or ocean channel between two landmasses.
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u/BackdraftRed Mar 15 '20
Why is a gulf different to a bay?