Coordinates: 50°42′20″N 2°59′23.6″W / 50.70556°N 2.989889°W
| Dorset and East Devon Coast* | |
|---|---|
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
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|
| State Party |  United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland |
| Type | Natural |
| Criteria | viii |
| Reference | 1029 |
| Region** | Europe and North America |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 2001 (25th Session) |
|
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List. ** Region as classified by UNESCO. |
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The Jurassic Coast is a World Heritage Site on the English Channel coast of southern England. The site stretches from Orcombe Point near Exmouth in East Devon to Old Harry Rocks near Swanage in East Dorset, a distance of 153 kilometres (95 mi).[1] Chartered in 2001, the Jurassic coast was the second wholly-natural World Heritage Site to be designated in the United Kingdom. Its entire length can be walked on the South West Coast Path.[2]
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The Jurassic Coast consists of Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous cliffs, spanning the Mesozoic Era, documenting 180 million years of geological history.
The site shows excellent examples of landforms, including the natural arch at Durdle Door, the cove and limestone folding at Lulworth Cove and an island, the Isle of Portland. Chesil Beach is a fine example of both a tombolo and a storm beach. The site has stretches of both concordant and discordant coastlines. Due to the quality of the varied geology, the site is the subject of international field studies. This area was home to Mary Anning, a palaeontologist who studied the fossils of the coastline around Lyme Regis and discovered the first complete Ichthyosaur fossil.
The highest point on the Jurassic Coast, and on the entire south coast of Britain, is Golden Cap at 191 metres (627 ft).
The site was featured on the television programme Seven Natural Wonders as one of the wonders of the South West (of the UK), and in a 2005 poll of Radio Times readers, the Jurassic Coast was named as the 5th greatest natural wonder in Britain.
During World War II several sections of the Jurassic Coast became property of the Ministry of War. One of the Royal Navy's largest bases was at Portland Harbour, though it has since closed. A major army base at Bovington remains in use today, and large areas of land, including the coast between Lulworth Cove and Kimmeridge, including Tyneham ghost village, are still only partially accessible. Areas of the coast near Exmouth, The Fleet at Weymouth and the beaches at Studland have also been used for training for war, but have since been returned to civilian use.
Stacks, such as Old Harry's Rocks at Handfast Point, are common along the coast.
Parts of the coast, especially around Portland, can be dangerous, and shipwrecks have been a feature of the coast. In January 2007 the coast experienced its most environmentally damaging wreck when the MSC Napoli, a 2,400 capacity container ship, was beached at Branscombe near Sidmouth, losing oil and cargo.[3]
On May 6 2008, a 400-metre (1,312 ft) section of the coast was destroyed after a landslip that was described as the worst in 100 years.[4]
West Bay forms a major gateway to the Jurassic Coast with the completion in 2004 of the Jurassic Pier.[5] Weymouth is also a major gateway town, near the centre of the world heritage site. A World Heritage Coast Centre is to be built in the town by 2011.[6]
Other gateway towns include:
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The Jurassic Coast [1] is the popular (and now official) name given to a 95 mile (155 km) long stretch of coastline in southern England, incorporating parts of the east Devon and Dorset coasts.
The Jurassic Coast was inscribed as a World Heritage site in 2001 [2] on account of its importance to geology, palaeontology and the sheer beauty of it's landscape. The area attracts hundreds of thousands of fossil hunters, hikers, campers and beach-goers each year.
Many of the earliest recognised scientific dinosaur discoveries were made along the Jurassic Coast in the early 19th century, promoting the rise of the science of palaeontology.
The attractions of the Jurassic Coast are many. Not to be missed, however, are:
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The Jurassic Coast is a stretch of coast in south-west England. It is between Orcombe Point near Exmouth in East Devon and Old Harry Rocks near Swanage in East Dorset. This is 95 miles long (153 km).
Because of its geology it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known as "Dorset and East Devon Coast". Its entire length can be walked on the South West Coast Path.[1]
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Some of the greatest fossil discoveries were made in this area.
These finds were by Mary Anning in the first part of the 19th century. This area was home to Mary, a collector who searched for fossils of the coastline around Lyme Regis and discovered several complete Ichthyosaur fossils.
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The Jurassic Coast is made of Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous cliffs, spanning 185 million years of geological history.
The site contains a number of special features and shows different landforms, including the natural arch at Durdle Door, the cove and limestone folding at Lulworth Cove and an island, the Isle of Portland.
Chesil Beach (or Chesil Bank) is one of England's three shingle (gravel) beaches. It is a barrier beach which runs parallel to the coastline and connects to Portland Bill (see photo). Between the barrier and the regular coastline is a lagoon.
Golden Cap is the highest place on the south coast of England. It is 191 metres (627 ft) high.
This section notes the main rocks found on the coast, starting with the lowest (earliest).
The Blue Lias is a geologic formation in the Jurassic Coast and parts of south Wales. It is part of the Lias Group.
The Blue Lias consists of a sequence of limestone and shale layers. It was laid down in late Triassic and early Jurassic times, between 195 and 200 million years ago. The Blue Lias is famous for its fossils, especially ammonites. Also found were remains of a number of dinosaurs, and the pterosaur Dimorphodon.
The Blue Lias alternates between limestone, (with some clay), and mudstone.
These are special towns that are related to the Jurassic Coast:
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Lyme Bay |
Landslip near
Landslip near Lyme Regis |
Coordinates: 50°42′20″N 2°59′23.6″W / 50.70556°N 2.989889°W
   | Information, History, Photos etc - The Heritage Coast: The Heritage Coast |
| | BBC News Article on the Jurassic Coast - BBC News | ENGLAND | Jurassic coast is world wonder |
| | National Geographic article on the Jurassic Coast - England's "Jurassic Coast" Gets World Heritage Listing |
| | The Dorset Coast Forum - The Dorset Coast Forum - Dorset For You |
| | Geology of the Wessex Coast - Geology of the Wessex Coast, Southern England |
| | South West Grid for Learning, Dorset Coast Forum, Countryside Agency and Dorset & Devon County Council joint Jurassic Coast site - The Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site Education pages |
| | The South West Coast Path National Trail - The Official Guide to the South West Coast Path |
| | Information on the Heritage Coast of Devon and Dorset - Jurassic Coast - West Bay, Dorset - Jurassic and World Heritage Coast. |
| | Jurassic Pier - Jurassic Pier - West Bay Landmark Named - Magazine - Stay & Do the World Heritage Coast |
| | Jurassic Coast - cotch dot net |
| | Stricken cargo ship run aground - BBC NEWS | UK | England | Devon | Stricken cargo ship run aground |
| | Dorset Coast Images - Dorset Coast Images by Ken Ayres Dorset Landscape Photographer |
| | Art of the Jurassic Coast - Art of the Jurassic Coast by Bob Bradshaw |
| | Dorset Pictures by Dorset Photographers Roger Lane and Roger Holman - Dorset Pictures: Welcome to Dorset's Premier Picture Library |
| | Weymouth Pavilion & Ferry Terminal—The scheme so far - Our vision - Weymouth Pavilion Development |
| | Pictures of Dorset's World Heritage coastline - ifphotos: Jurassic coast |
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