Gay Cliff to St Alban's Head
Location in the United Kingdom
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.

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
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Satellite view of Chesil Beach (linear feature in blue running diagonally NW-SE) from Abbotsbury to the Isle of Portland
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.

### Sequence of rocks

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

#### Blue Lias

Blue Lias cliffs at Lyme Regis, Dorset
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
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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.

Gallery
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* Durdle DoorDurdle Door
* The Jurassic limestones on the Isle of Portland.The Jurassic limestones on the Isle of Portland.
* Lyme BayLyme Bay
* Landslip near Lyme RegisLandslip near Lyme Regis
* Man O War CoveMan O War Cove
* Old harry rocksOld harry rocks
* Lyme Regis, EnglandLyme Regis, England
* Ammonite from the Jurassic Coast, Dorset.Ammonite from the Jurassic Coast, Dorset.

Related pages
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* List of World Heritage Sites of the United Kingdom

Other websites
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to ***Jurassic Coast***.

* Jurassic Coast official website Archived 2008-05-09 at the Wayback Machine
* The South West Coast Path National Trail
* Jurassic Coast UNESCO World Heritage site datasheet

| * v
* t
* e
World Heritage Sites in the United Kingdom |
| --- |
| England | 
* Bath
	+ as part of Great Spa Towns of Europe
* Blenheim Palace
* Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine's Abbey and St Martin's Church
* Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape
* Derwent Valley Mills
* Durham Castle and Cathedral
* Frontiers of the Roman Empire
	+ Hadrian's Wall
* Ironbridge Gorge
* Jodrell Bank Observatory
* Jurassic Coast
* Kew Royal Botanic Gardens
* Lake District
* Maritime Greenwich
* Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey including St Margaret's Church
* Saltaire
* Stonehenge, Avebury and Associated Sites
* Studley Royal Park and Fountains Abbey
* Tower of London

 |  |
| Scotland | 
* Edinburgh Old Town and New Town
* Forth Bridge
* Frontiers of the Roman Empire
	+ Antonine Wall
* Heart of Neolithic Orkney
* New Lanark
* St Kilda

 |
| Wales | 
* Blaenavon Industrial Landscape
* Castles and Town Walls of King Edward I in Gwynedd
	+ Beaumaris Castle
	+ Caernarfon Castle and Town Walls
	+ Conwy Castle and Town Walls
	+ Harlech Castle
* Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
* The Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales

 |
| Northern Ireland | 
* Giant's Causeway

 |
| British Overseas Territories | 
* Gorham's Cave Complex
* Gough Island
* Inaccessible Island
* Henderson Island
* Town of St George and Related Fortifications

 |
| Former | 
* Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City

 |

Coordinates: 50°42′20″N 2°59′23.6″W﻿ / ﻿50.70556°N 2.989889°W﻿ / 50.70556; -2.989889