Case study - the Dorset coastline
Dorset is located in the south of England. Its coastline has examples of many erosional and depositional landforms. For example:
- Swanage is an example of a headlandA high area of land that extends out into the sea. and bayA low-lying inlet of land on the coast.
- Old Harry Rocks is an example of caveRecess in a cliff where waves have enlarged a crack in the rock face., stackA pillar of rock left standing in the sea when the top of an arch has collapsed. and stumpThe remains of a stack which the sea has eroded away.
- At Chesil Beach there is a barA spit that has grown across a bay. Also known as barrier beaches.
Swanage Bay
The area around Swanage is made up of bands of hard and soft rock. The soft rock is made of clay and sands, and the hard rock is chalk and limestone. As erosion processes take place, the clay erodes away quicker than the limestone and chalk. This forms headlands and bays, creating Swanage Bay and two headlands - Ballard Point and Durlston Head.
Old Harry Rocks
Old Harry Rocks are located on the headland between Swanage and Studland Bay. The headland is made out of chalk, a hard rock. The headland juts out into the sea, so it is more vulnerable to high-energy waves. This caused the formation of Old Harry, a stack. Over time Old Harry will collapse to form a stump.
Chesil Beach
Chesil Beach is an example of a bar. Sediment has been deposited over time to form a spitA stretch of beach at one end of a coastline caused by waves depositing material.. The spit has continued to join to the Isle of Portland. Behind the spit there is The Fleet, a lagoonA shallow area of water separated from the sea by a bar or spit..