THE coastline of Dorset has transfixed and inspired for hundreds of years.
From the crashing pebbles of Chesil to the fossil-rich cliffs of Charmouth and beyond, its rich variety and ever-changing face draws people from all over the world.
The Jurassic Coast, as it is now known, is England's first and only natural World Heritage Site.
The site is a 95 mile stretch of the south coast from Exmouth in East Devon to Studland in Dorset.
It was awarded World Heritage Site status in December 2001 by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) because of its outstanding Earth science interest.
It is the only place on Earth where 185 million years of the Earth's history are sequentially exposed in dramatic cliffs, secluded coves, coastal stacks and barrier beaches.
The 'tilt' of the rocks creates a unique 'walk through time' from 250 million to 65 million years ago, through the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods as you walk eastwards along the site.
What is a World Heritage Site?
World Heritage Sites are carefully selected by UNESCO as places of 'outstanding universal value. It is the highest global level of designation for a natural area.
UNESCO promotes the protection and conservation of these sites and encourages them to be presented and passed intact to future generations.
The Great Barrier Reef, the Grand Canyon and the Galapagos Islands are all examples of natural World Heritage Sites.
Although known to all as the Jurassic Coast the full name is the Dorset and East Devon Coast World Heritage Site.
The name comes from the best known of the geological periods found within it, but in fact the site includes rocks from the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.
The different rocks tell a fascinating story from ancient deserts to tropical seas throughout the Mesozoic era, between 250 million and 65 million years ago.
By emphasising the Earth science story, the phrase 'Jurassic Coast' is fast becoming as familiar as the UK's other natural wonders such as the Lake District and Giant's Causeway.
READ MORE: Rebellions, rockfalls and rugged beauty: An amazing Dorset coastline
Chesil Beach is one of the wonders of the coastline, stretching 15 miles from Portland to near Bridport - a steeply shelving bank of pebbles.
Midway along Chesil Beach is Moonfleet, the locality dramatised by J Meade Faulkner's smuggling tale.
The size of pebbles are naturally graded along its length and it is said survivors from shipwrecks could tell where they were based on the pebble size.
Dorset County Council, Devon County Council and the Dorset Coast Forum led the work to achieve World Heritage Site status, and the two councils jointly fund ongoing work to protect, conserve and improve understanding of the site.
READ MORE: Exploring Dorset coastline between Lulworth and Bowleaze
Broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough, who is a big fan of Dorset, said: “The World Heritage Site is an extremely prestigious but well-earned distinction for the Jurassic Coast.
“It is indeed of worldwide importance and a place of great fascination to anyone interested in the history of life on this planet.
“Let us hope that we do our best not only to maintain but improve the ways by which we enable visitors to understand its significance.”
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