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Jurassic Coast
The Geology: Deeper Into Time
Our World Heritage Story
The story of the Dorset and East Devon Coast begins 250 million years ago. The rocks record the Mesozoic era - the ‘Middle Ages’ of life on Earth - comprising the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods of geological time. Today the spectacular geology is beautifully exposed and accessible within the World Heritage Site.
The Triassic Period
In Triassic times, the World Heritage Site was part of a super-continent called Pangaea.
The Jurassic Period
The Jurassic rocks of Dorset and East Devon record marine conditions during the Jurassic Period - conditions that fluctuated from relatively deep seas to coastal swamps.
The Cretaceous Period
Early in the Cretaceous, the environment of the World Heritage Site was similar to the modern Gulf of Arabia, with lagoons covered by salt flats known as sabkhas.
Shaping the Coast - A Spectacular Laboratory
The varied geology of the coast has produced a spectacular laboratory for the modern science of geomorphology - the study of the shape of the land, and the processes that create it.
The Birth of a Science - A place of Discovery
From the early days of geology to the present day, the Dorset and East Devon Coast has been a place of discovery.
Copyright 2010 Jurassic Coast
Copyright 2010 Jurassic Coast