Bawdsey Cliff facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Suffolk |
|---|---|
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 17.4 hectares |
| Notification | 1987 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Bawdsey Cliff is a special place in Suffolk, England. It's located near Felixstowe and covers about 17.4 hectares. This area is very important for understanding Earth's history. It's a great spot for young explorers interested in geology and ancient life.
Contents
What Makes Bawdsey Cliff Special?
Bawdsey Cliff is officially recognized as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's a protected area because of its unique natural features. In this case, it's protected for its amazing geology. It's also part of the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This means the landscape here is really beautiful and important to protect.
A Window into the Past: The Red Crag
The cliffs at Bawdsey are like a giant open book of Earth's history. They show a long section of rock called the Red Crag Formation. This rock layer formed during a time called the Early Pleistocene epoch. The Pleistocene was a period that started about 2.6 million years ago and ended about 11,700 years ago. It's often called the "Ice Age" because of the many glaciers that covered parts of the Earth.
Discovering Ancient Sea Life
The Red Crag at Bawdsey Cliff is famous for its many fossils. These fossils are mostly from ancient marine molluscs. Molluscs are a group of soft-bodied animals, like snails, clams, and oysters. Finding their fossilized shells here tells us a lot about what the sea was like millions of years ago. It helps scientists understand the ancient environments before the major ice ages began.
Exploring Bawdsey Cliff
Bawdsey Cliff is located on Bawdsey Beach, which is open to the public. This makes it a fantastic place to visit and explore. You can walk along the beach and see the cliffs up close. Remember to look for fossils, but always be respectful of the site. It's a great opportunity to learn about geology and see real evidence of Earth's past.
