Jurassic Coast

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 96 miles long (154 km).  

It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.UNESCO, "Dorset and East Devon Coast"; retrieved 2012-4-19.

Its entire length can be walked on the South West Coast Path.

 Major fossil finds 
Some of the greatest fossil discoveries were made in this area. 
The first ichthyosaur skeleton
The first plesiosaur
The first pterosaur outside Germany
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.

 Geology 
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  high.

 Sequence of rocks 
This section notes the main rocks found on the coast, starting with the lowest (earliest).

 Blue Lias 
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.

 Gateway towns 
These are special towns that are related to the Jurassic Coast:
 Weymouth
 West Bay
 Abbotsbury
 Bridport
 Budleigh Salterton
 Charmouth — Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre
 Exmouth
 Lulworth
 Lyme Regis
 Seaton
 Sidmouth
 Swanage

Pretty much the same rocks can be seen near the Yorkshire coast near Hull (Kingston upon Hull) in Yorkshire near the Humber Estuary. Also the Jurassic and Cretaceous rocks can be followed into northern France.For example, see maps of France with colours showing where the rocks are. 

Gallery

 Related pages 
List of World Heritage Sites of the United Kingdom

References

 Other websites 

 Jurassic Coast official website 
 The South West Coast Path National Trail
 Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage site datasheet

Category:Geography of Devon
Category:Geography of Dorset
Category:South West England
Category:World Heritage Sites in the United Kingdom
Category:Lagerstätten
Category:Archaeological sites in England
Category:Landforms of the United Kingdom