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The Geography Department |
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Old Harry Rocks, Isle of Purbeck, Dorset April 1996
More photographs from 24 October 2001
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A general view of Old Harry Rocks from Ballard Down in late afternoon light at Easter. The progressive erosion of the headland can be seen, from the caves etched out at the waterline, to the enlarged hollows on the main stack, and eventually the detached, vertical, slim sea stack. Beyond the stacks is an area of wave-cut platform, exposed at this low tide.
800Harry4.jpg (108220 bytes) |
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A close-up of part of the above picture, with further detail to be seen of the undercutting, the chalk structure and the pedestal created by the wave-cut notch. The shallowness, and clarity, of the waters around the headland also show up.
800Harry2.jpg (169150 bytes) |
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This view, from the north-east, shows the headland and, more notably, its wave-cut platform. Long hours about sea level has left this platform with a greenish tinge. My wife cynically says it's probably the fertilising influence of sewage from Swanage! (allegedly)
800Harry8.jpg (116508 bytes)
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Basically the same shot, without the artistic foreground! A good indicator of the last rockfall in any one place is, of course, its lack of vegetation, or otherwise. Clearly, some part of the stack have not been eroded for some time. Sub-aerial processes have had long enough to affect the cliff top.
800Harry6.jpg (112089 bytes) |
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A tight-shot of the above view; the chalk debris scattered around the wave-cut platform is more easily viewed.
800Harry7.jpg (187458 bytes) |
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Old Harry Rocks, 24 October, 2001
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From Studland Bay, Old Harry rocks are just visible. The cliffs are more vegetated on the eastern side of the headland. |
A small beach at the sheltered foot of the cliff. |
Looking back towards Studland village from the headland.
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The Old Harry Rocks from the east.
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The wave-cut platform can be seen from this side of the headland. |
A detail from the photo to the left. |
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The contrast in vegetation cover is clearly seen here. The higher wave-energy from the south-west probably keeps the cliffs more actively eroding on that side. |
A closer detail of the cliff foot.
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The approach to the headland is by a narrow and winding path, with excellent views vertically down on both sides!
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The Pinnacles; stacks eroded from the highest part of the chalk escarpment of Ballard Down. Looking from Old Harry Rocks towards Swanage. |
The Pinnacles again.
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One of the Pinnacles, with a small beach at yen foot of the chalk cliffs.
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The full extent of the Old Harry Rocks. |
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A detail from the shot above, showing how the sea has opened up a cleft and enlarged it to form a cave. |
The chalk stack, arch and some wave-cut platform. |
The same shot as shown to the left, but with waves breaking. |
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Old Harry map from Streetmap |
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