The schematic drawing below depicts the rising sea level and how the cliff face as it appears today formed. The map to the right shows numerous faults in the area, the highest geologic uplifting rates in the world can be found in this area.

Left: a schematic taken from a paper by Rollin
   Chamberlin, Journal of Geology 1934 V. 45

Above: Geologic Map of the area taken from
   Coastal Geological Society Handbook
   Guidebook 64 drawn by R.S. Yeats in 1983