The Lulworth coastline

The Lulworth coastline is one of the most famous coastlines in the United kingdom. The cove in it is one of the most perfect coves in the country. There are many other many good examples of coastal erosion in this natural environment such as Mupe bay, the Fossil Forest, Stair Hole, Bats head and Durdle Door.

Mupe Bay.

A huge cliff fall took place here in the Spring of 2000. Huge lumps of rock fell from the chalk cliff onto the land and sea. The chalk cliff here is nearly vertical. The bay formed in a strange shape. On the west side it looks like it would be a cove. On the east side it looks less curved like a bay should.

The Fossil forest.

The Fossil Forest is on a ledge half way up the cliff-face to the East of Lulworth Cove. It consists of lots of doughnut-shaped structures, but no trees. Under this lies a fossil soil, 145,000,000 years old. The fores grew on low lying islands surrounded by small, shallow pools and lagoons. the water levels rose, and thick mats of sticky, green algae grew around the base of the trees that used to be there. Residue stuck to the algae and built up forming the big burs visible today. The hole in the middle of each bur is where the tree once stood.

Stair Hole.

The earliest stage in the fomations of bays and headlands. The hard Portland limestone is just begining to be breached by the sea and softer rocks behind are begining to be eroded away.

Durdle Door.

Durdle door is one of the biggest natural arches on the south Coast. It is very near Lulworth Cove.