 Originally , seventeen sectors along the Normandy coastline had been selected as possible invasion sites and each were provided with a code name taken from one of the spelling alphabets of the time . The coast was divided between Able , west of Omaha , to Rodger on the eastern flank of the invasion area . Eight further sectors were added when the planned invasion was extended to include Utah . Each sector was further subdivided into beaches identified by the colours Green , Red , and White . Gold did not refer to a particular beach but to a landing area . It was delineated by Port @-@ en @-@ Bessin on the west and La Rivière on the east , and included Arromanches , location of one of the artificial Mulberry harbours that were to be constructed shortly after the invasion . High cliffs at the western end of the zone meant that the landings would be undertaken on the flat beach between Le Hamel and La Rivière , in the sectors code @-@ named Jig and King . The area immediately behind the beach was marshy , with open ground and bocage ( small fields surrounded by hedges and embankments ) further inland . Roads led to the south via Asnelles and Ver @-@ sur @-@ Mer . The terrain to the south @-@ east rose to a ridge at Meuvaines , where on D @-@ day were located machine gun nests of the German 726th Regiment . 
 Originally , seventeen sectors along the Normandy coastline <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>had</mark></a> been selected as possible invasion sites and each <a href='uninflect' title='2'><mark>were</mark></a> provided with a code name taken from one of the spelling alphabets of the time . The coast was divided between Able , west of Omaha , to Rodger on the eastern flank of the invasion area . Eight further sectors <a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> added when the planned invasion was extended to include Utah . Each sector was further subdivided into beaches identified by the colours Green , Red , and White . Gold did not refer to a particular beach but to <a href='None' title='4'><mark>a</mark></a>landing <a href='negative_concord' title='5'><mark>area</mark></a> . It was delineated by Port @-@ en @-@ Bessin on the west and La Rivière on the east , and included Arromanches , location of one of the artificial Mulberry harbours <a href='null_relcl' title='6'><mark>that</mark></a><a href='uninflect' title='7'><mark>were</mark></a> to be constructed shortly after the invasion . High cliffs at the western end of the zone meant that the landings would be undertaken on the flat beach between Le Hamel and La Rivière , in the sectors code @-@ named Jig and King . The area immediately behind the beach was marshy , with open ground and bocage ( small fields surrounded by hedges and embankments ) further inland . Roads led to the south via Asnelles and Ver @-@ sur @-@ Mer . The terrain to the south @-@ east rose to a ridge at Meuvaines , where on D @-@ day <a href='uninflect' title='8'><mark>were</mark></a> located machine gun nests of the German 726th Regiment . 
Originally , seventeen sectors along da Normandy coastline done been selected as possible invasion sites and each was provided with a code name taken from one of the spelling alphabets of tdatime . The coast was divided between Able , west of Omaha , to Rodger on the eastern flank of the invasion area . Eight further sectors was added when thdalanned invasion was extended to include Utah . Each sector was further subdivided into beaches identified by the colours Green , Red , and White . Gold did not refer to a particular beach but to landing no area . It was delineated by Port @-@ en @-@ Bessin on thedast and La Rivière on the dat , and included Arromanches , location of one of the artificial Mulberry harbours was to b constructed shortly after the idasion . High cliffs at the western end of the zone meant dat the landings would be undertaken on the fldabeach between Le Hamel and La Rivière , in the sectors code @-@ named Jig and King . The aredammediately behind the beach was marshy , wid open ground and bocage ( small fields surrounded by hedges and embankments ) further inland . Roads led to the south via Asnelles and Ver @-@ sur @-@ Mer . The terrain to the south @-@ east rose to a ridge at Meuvaines , where on D @-@ day was located machine gun nests of the Germda726th Regiment .