Chale Bay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chale Bay |
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 Chale Bay looking to the north-west |
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 Chale Bay
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| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
Chale Bay is a beautiful bay located on the southwest coast of the Isle of Wight in England. It's named after the nearby village of Chale. The bay faces the English Channel and has a gently curving shoreline. It stretches for about 3.25 miles (5.2 kilometers) from Artherfield Point to Rocken End.
You can get a great view of Chale Bay from the car park on the A3055 road, which is above Blackgang Chine. The Isle of Wight Coastal Path also follows the clifftop here. This path offers amazing views of the entire coastline. Getting down to the beach at Chale Bay can be tricky. There are no easy ways down from the clifftop along its three miles.
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Exploring Chale Bay's Geography
The beach at Chale Bay is mostly made of shingle, which are small, smooth stones. Tall cliffs border the beach. These cliffs are made of sandstone, chalk, and clay. Because of this, they often experience erosion, meaning they slowly wear away.
There are several coastal chines and ravines around the bay. A chine is a steep-sided river valley that cuts through soft rock cliffs. Some of the most well-known chines here include Whale Chine, Blackgang Chine, and Walpen Chine.
Near the eastern end of the bay, you'll find a large boulder called Shag Rock. It's about the size of a small building! However, a big storm in 1980 moved it from its original spot on the shoreline. When you approach the island from the west, Chale Bay marks a change in the coastline. The shore becomes very rocky and isn't suitable for boats to land. This rocky coastline continues all the way to Sandown Bay. The bottom of the sea in Chale Bay is a mix of mud, sand, and shells.
Famous Shipwrecks of Chale Bay
Chale Bay has been the site of several shipwrecks over the centuries. The strong currents and rocky shore can be dangerous for ships.
The St. Mary (1314)
One of the earliest recorded shipwrecks happened in 1314. A ship called the St. Mary, which was from Bayonne, France, crashed at the western end of the bay. It was carrying a cargo of white wine from a region in France called Aquitaine.
The Wheatfield Steamer (1882)
Another famous wreck is the Wheatfield steamer. This large steamship, weighing 1,200 tons, ran aground on New Year's Eve in 1882. It crashed onto the rocks about 200 yards west of Shag Rock. Luckily, the crew managed to escape in their lifeboats, and no one was hurt. However, the ship broke apart, and its cargo was lost. This cargo included tinned meat and flour. After the wreck, some local people were fined for having items that had been salvaged from the ship.
The Sailing Boat (1996)
More recently, in 1996, a 75-foot sailing boat was washed ashore. This happened because of very high waves caused by Hurricane Lili. All five people on board were safely rescued by the local lifeboat service.
