The White Cliffs of Dover
The White Cliffs of Dover are one of Britain’s most familiar natural wonders and are iconic to the geology and history of the United Kingdom.
These are huge white cliffs that stretchy along the south east coast of England. These mammoth rock formations have cliff faces that reach up to 350 feet. They own their brilliant white color to the chalk content that is in the actual rock. The cliffs are situated between the town of Dover in the county of Kent which is an important English Port.
The cliffs also happen to be at the narrowest part of the English Channel known as the Strait of Dover. These cliffs have always been a lookout for attacks from France or Spain. The cliff that is closest to France and protrudes out into the strait is called the Shakespeare Cliff. On a clear day visitors can see 21 miles across the channel to France.
This is a popular tourist spot but visitors to this wonderful place are well advised to stay away from the edge. That is because the grass and chalk stone at the edge of the cliff has been known to be slippery as ice. Large sections of the cliff have been known to fall into the water. In 2001, a piece as large as a football field fell into the water. The cliff naturally shrinks by about one centimetre a year but during winter storms several tons of rock can crack and fall.
The area is covered with chalk grassland which encourages wildflowers and butterflies. It is home to the rare early spider orchid as well as knapweed, horseshoe vetch and broomrape. It is also home to the Chalkhill Blue Butterfly, Painted Ladies, Red Admiral and the Straw Belle Moth.
The White Cliffs of Dover are also home to several amazing species of cliff nesting birds including fulmar and black legged Kittiwake.
The cliffs are also hoe mot the South Foreland Lighthouse that was built in 1843 over 350 years ago. It was decommissioned in 1988 but is a heritage building because it was the site of the first ever international radio broadcast. You can also see the remains of ancient Roman lighthouses and sites where beacon fires were lit to guide old ships into the Port of Dover.
One of the best ways to enjoy the cliffs is to stroll along the four mile Nature Walk of the White Cliffs of Dover that are sponsored by The National Trust.