|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This is a famous location for finding fossils on the Dorset coast. Some really big and important finds were made in the late 1800s. The sea is constantly washing more of the cliff down onto the beach providing new opportunities for that once-in-a-lifetime find.
I had hoped to get the focus good enough for geologists to look at individual rocks in the cliff, but as you can see, I didn't quite nail it. The next bay to the East (right) at Seatown is here: http://tinyurl.com/m3f8ap. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The beaches around Charmouth and Lyme Regis are world famous for fossils. I found my first ammonite here in 1973 and became a geologist as a result!
I have planted 10 fossils in this view but there are many more. This is just how you find them, lying on the beach! There are ammonites, belemnites, shells, trace fossils, crinoids (can anyone find the star shaped stalk?) and ichthyosaur vertebrae. There are also minerals; calcite and 'beef' calcite together with flint and chert. The sea does all the hard work, washing away the soft clays to leave the well preserved fossils scattered across the beach for people to find. People can take these fossils away because if they are not collected, they would simply be destroyed by the very process that uncovers them. Every year there are fossils, and more fossils! The Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre, Lyme Regis Museum and a number of private individuals lead guided walks and this is the best way to get a start. Please stay away from the cliffs and landslides – rock falls can happen at any time while the landslides contain mudflows and quicksand, it is all too easy to get stuck. Rough weather is the best time to go collecting; this gigapan was taken during excellent fossil collecting weather, wind and rain! But you also need to check the tides and head out along the beach as the tide is going out. A fossil collecting code operates in this area. Visit www.charmouth.org for more details |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Black Ven is one of the most spectacular coastal landslides in Europe. Beyond, lies the Spittles, a series of fields that lie on an ancient landslide surface just waiting to be ‘unzipped’ by coastal erosion. The town of Lyme Regis is protected from the sea by its famous harbour, the Cobb and a new coast defence scheme along the sea front. However, the landslides continue to threaten the eastern side of the town. There is a paradox here; the reason why Lyme is so famous for fossils and why the surrounding coast is so interesting, internationally important and beautiful is because it is eroding. Finding the balance between protecting the natural interests of the coast, a World Heritage Site, by allowing it to erode, and protecting the town from that erosion, is a continuing challenge for all involved in managing this coastline made beautiful by both natural erosion and human endeavour. For more information about the World Heritage Site, visit: www.jurassiccoast.com or http://www.soton.ac.uk/~imw/lymchar.htm |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This is a famous location for finding fossils on the Dorset coast. Sadly something went wrong and the image is not well-focused. If that was not enough, the white balance was set to incandescent light. I attempted to make the resulting blue image warmer but the colours are quite wrong. The sun was setting and all the rocks should have gold/rust colour.
The dark "soil" above the beach on the left is some sort of soft black rock. Erosion from the sea has cause a huge landslip here. For a much better shot and geological information see http://share.gigapan.org/viewGigapan.php?id=13305. You can see the next bay East (right) here: http://tinyurl.com/m3f8ap. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The town on a busy Easter bank holiday weekend!
Lyme is known as the ‘Pearl of Dorset’ and is rich in history. This view is from the Cobb, Lyme’s famous curvy harbour and this spot is where Meryl Streep stood during a storm in one of the early scenes from the film, ‘The French Lieutenant’s Woman’, adopted from a novel by local author John Fowles. The cliffs to the east are part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and the beaches are rich with fossils. It was here, in Lyme that the first fossil marine reptiles, ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, together with flying reptiles came to the attention of science due to the efforts of local collectors, most famously Mary Anning. In recent years massive engineering works have been undertaken by West Dorset District Council to protect the town from the storms and landslides but erosion continues. There is a paradox; the reason why Lyme is so famous for fossils and why the surrounding coast is so interesting, internationally important and beautiful is because it is eroding. Finding the balance between protecting the natural interests of the coast, a World Heritage Site, by allowing it to erode, and protecting the town from that erosion is a continuing challenge for all involved in managing this coastline made beautiful by both natural erosion and human endeavour. For more information, check out www.jurassiccoast.com http://www.soton.ac.uk/~imw/Lyme-Regis-town.htm |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The geology gallery explores the rich local fossils and the extraordinary history of science behind their early discovery and study. Mary Anning and the Anning family of Lyme Regis, plays a central part of this story. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The view from Langmoor and Lister Gardens lies at the centre of a major engineering scheme completed in 2007 by West Dorset District Council with funding from DEFRA. The slopes are ancient landslides and they have been stabilised by placing piles through the landslide surfaces and adding drains to take away the water. The pebble beach adds weight to the base of the slope and absorbs the full force of the waves during stormy weather. The sandy beach, an important attraction for the town, is held in place by a large stone groyne and rock armour extending from the north wall (the straight wall) of the Cobb. The rock armour on the end of the Cobb was replaced and lengthened in order to create a greater 'pool' to allow the waves to spill into and loose their energy. The length of the wall was designed using the latest computer and physical modelling and quite by chance closely matched the original stone wall placed there more than 200 years ago! For more information visit www.jurassiccoast.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The view from Cains Folly on Stonebarrow which is part of the Golden Cap Estate, owned and managed by the National Trust. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Imagem aérea de Lebon Régis. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Baverso Theater at the Father Regis Ryan Arts Center, McKees Rocks, PA |