Old Harry Rocks, Dorset
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Old Harry Rocks is the name given to a chalk stack found below the cliffs at Ballard, which lies directly east of Studland , just north of Swanage in Dorset. As part of the world famous UNESCO Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, the rocks are spectacular, especially in heavy weather when the sea crashes around the base of the stacks. The rocks mark the eastern end of the Jurassic Coast . Some geologists maintain that the stack was probably once physically connected to The Needles on the Isle of Wight as part of a line of hills that were eroded en masse during the last Ice Age.
The cliffs here are mainly made up of chalk, with some bands of flint within them. The stacks are of course still being eroded by the sea and are therefore an ever-changing feature.
To form the stack the sea gradually eroded along the joints and bedding planes where the softer chalk meets harder bedrock of the rock formations to create a cave. This then eventually eroded right through to create an arch. The arch subsequently collapsed to leave the stacks of Old Harry, No Mans Land and the gap of St Lucas' Leap. The large outcrop of rock at the end of the cliffs is often referred to as 'No Man's Land'.
Back in the 1770's, people could still walk from the headland of Handfast Point to Old Harry, which is the stack at the end nearest to the sea. Old Harry once had a 'wife' but in 1896 the majority of Harry's wife fell into the sea leaving only a stump. New stacks are being formed as the sea continues to cut through the narrow and relatively soft chalk to form arches which inevitably collapse to leave more stacks.
There are two stories regarding the naming of the rocks. One suggests that the devil himself took a nap on the rocks, although it is unclear if the popular euphemism for the devil of 'Old Harry' precedes the naming of the rocks or the other way around. Another explanation is that the name is linked to the infamous Poole pirate, Harry Paye, who used to store his contraband nearby.
The stacks are a popular viewpoint along the South West Coast Path . The path stretches across the entire Jurassic Coastline and offers the walker stunning views of the many coastal features. Geologists, and those with an interest in fossils, flock to the fossil-rich coastline which is said to showcase of Earth's history over the last 250 million years.
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