The cliffs of Hunstanton

Welcome to these famous cliffs. We did want to walk the full length of this stripped part but the incoming tide did not allow us to do that. So a car ride to the other side and the previous photo (PiP) shows the results.

The stripes in the cliffs are caused by layers of different-coloured rock. The main layers are carrstone and chalk. Carrstone is the brown layer and consists of sandstone - sand cemented together by iron oxide (rust). In places where the cement is stronger, the rock is darker and less crumbly. There are no fossils in this layer apart from a little fossilised wood. The red and white chalk is made of limestone. Limestone forms in warm tropical climates, which suggests that Hunstanton's climate was once warmer than it is today. The colour of the red chalk is due to iron staining.

See PiP for opposite direction

Best full screen
Enjoy the day