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Why is the Dorset coast important?
Millions of years of history. The Jurassic Coast was granted UNESCO status for its outstanding geology, revealing 185 million years of Earth’s history along its 95 mile stretch of coastline. It is well known for being one of the richest heritage sites for prehistoric remains.
What type of coastline is Dorset?
Along the coastline of the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, there are both discordant and concordant coastlines. The discordant coastline has been formed into Studland Bay (soft rock), Ballard Point (hard rock), Swanage Bay (soft rock) and Durlston Head (hard rock).
Who settled Dorset?
The county has a long history of human settlement stretching back to the Neolithic era. The Romans conquered Dorset’s indigenous Celtic tribe, and during the Early Middle Ages, the Saxons settled the area and made Dorset a shire in the 7th century.
What is the relationship between geology and coastal form along the Dorset coastline?
This is called a discordant coastline . The soft rock is made of clay and sands, and the hard rock is chalk and limestone. As erosion processes take place, the clay erodes away quicker than the limestone and chalk. This forms headlands and bays, creating Swanage Bay and two headlands – Ballard Point and Durlston Head.
Where is the Dorset coastline located?
south of England
The Dorset Coast, located to the south of England on the English Channel, runs from Lymme Regis in the west, past Old Harry Rocks in Purbeck to Highcliffe in the east. Excluding the shoreline of Poole Harbour, the Dorset coastline is 142 kilometres (88 mi) long.
Are there cliffs in Dorset?
Gad Cliff, Dorset This cliff can be found on the South West Coastal Path as you head west out of Kimmeridge Bay. The uppermost layers of Gad Cliff are formed by the Purbeck beds and the Portland limestones. These lay above a layer of Portland sands and Kimmeridge clay at its base.
Where is the Dorset coastline?
Dorset is located in the south of England. Its coastline has examples of many erosional and depositional landforms.
How would you describe Dorset?
Dorset is a county located in the middle of the south coast of England. Many of the sea-cliffs in the county, particularly around the town of Lyme Regis, are very rich in exposed fossils. Dorset’s terrain is lowland in nature, albeit hilly in many parts.
Is Dorset a town or county?
Dorset, administrative, geographic, and historic county of southwestern England. It is bordered by the English Channel (south) and the counties of Devon (west), Hampshire (east), and Somerset and Wiltshire (both north). The historic town of Dorchester, in the south, is the county seat.
Is Dorset in Devon or Cornwall?
The West Country is a loosely defined area of south-western England. The term usually encompasses the historic counties of (from west to east) Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset, and is often extended to include Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, in the South West region.
What is the geology of the Dorset coastline?
The area around Swanage is made up of bands of hard and soft rock. The soft rock is made of clay and sands, and the hard rock is chalk and limestone. The bands of soft rock erode more quickly than those of the more resistant hard rock leaving a section of land jutting out into the sea, called a headland.
How does geology affect the coastline?
Geology The geological structure of coasts and the types of rock found there influence the erosion landscapes formed. Soft rock— Easily eroded, cliffs will be less rugged and less steep. Four types of erosion: Hydraulic action—the weight and impact of water against the coastline and cliffs erodes them.