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Jurassic Coast
Chesil Beach - Finest barrier beach in Europe
Location: Chesil Bank (West
Bay - Portland) Best viewed from Abbotsbury Hill.
Rock Type: Large shingle bank made largely of chert pebbles.
Age: approximately 20,000 years
Look out for: Chesil bank supports its own unique plant and animal communities. Some areas are protected and under restricted access to protect nesting birds.
The geology in Detail
Chesil Bank was formed from the debris of ancient landslides along what would become the West Dorset coast. Before 125,000 years ago sea levels were at a similar level to those of today and the cliff line of West Dorset would have been in almost the same position as it is now. During that time the familiar processes of landslides and mudflows that characterise that part of the Jurassic Coast would have been operating, carrying thousands of tonnes of debris on to the beach to be slowly removed by the sea. However, at about 125,000 years ago sea levels dropped due to the formation of ice sheets and the actively eroding coastline was abandoned. The landslides continued to occur along the cliffs but without the sea to remove the fallen material it built up into massive debris fans. Eventually the slopes formed a stable angle, stopped moving and became vegetated. After 100,000 years sea levels rose again to their previous height and encountered these huge accumulations of mud and rock. As these debris fans were eroded the material was carried east by long shore drift and formed an enormous shingle bank. Today the landslides around Lyme Regis that haven't moved for thousands of years have been exposed again and are slowly re-activating.Loading...
Orcombe Point - The beginning of the story
The western end of the World Heritage Site and the oldest rocks on the Jurassic Coast. Striking Red sandstones and mudstones can be seen in the cliff and the ‘geoneedle' on top of Orcombe point marks the start of the ‘walk through time'.
Budleigh Pebble Beds - Mountains and rivers
An incredible river deposit of pebbles from
across the channel and sandstones with ancient plant roots.
Ladram Bay - Sea stacks and the E.Devon AONB
Ladram Bay is a picturesque beach characterised by several
high sea stacks. It is one of the highlights of the East Devon Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
Sidmouth - Desert dweller in the Otter Sandstone
Sidmouth is a traditional British seaside town bounded
within a wedge of red sandstone.
Beer - A story of stone Part 1
Beer is a picturesque fishing village and a source for
the famous Beer Stone.
Lyme Regis - World famous fossil site
Lyme Regis is famous worldwide for the abundant and
well preserved fossils that are found there eroded from the local cliffs.
Charmouth - World famous fossil site
Charmouth is famous worldwide for the abundant and
well preserved fossils that are found there eroded from the local cliffs.
Golden Cap - The highest view on the south coast
Golden Cap is the highest point on the south
coast and gives a fantastic viewpoint of this western part of the World
Heritage Site.
Chesil Beach - Finest barrier beach in Europe
Chesil Bank is one of the finest examples of a barrier
beach in Europe. Its formation is a direct
result of impact of the Ice ages on the geology and coastal processes of West Dorset.
Osmington Mills - Traces of life
Fantastic trace fossils can be seen on the beach at
Osmington Mills. Some of the best along the whole of the Jurassic Coast.
Durdle Door - The natural arch
Durdle Door, a huge natural rock arc, is an internationally
famous landmark and one of the most characteristic and spectacular features
along the Jurassic
Coast.
Lulworth Cove & Crumple - a geography pilgrimage
Lulworth Cove is a quintessential location for
the study of different rates of erosion in the formation of bays and headlands.
It is also a beautiful and popular tourist destination.
Old Harry Rocks - The end of the story
This is the eastern end of the Jurassic Coast
and where the youngest rocks on the world Heritage Site are exposed. Brilliant
white chalk has been eroded into steep cliffs and the famous collection of sea
stacks known as ‘Old Harry Rocks'.
Copyright 2011 Jurassic Coast
Copyright 2011 Jurassic Coast