Luccombe Chine facts for kids
Luccombe Chine is a beautiful natural spot on the Isle of Wight in England. It's a special kind of valley found along the coast. This valley is covered in trees and leads down from the top of the cliffs to Luccombe Bay.
What is a Chine?
A "chine" is a deep, narrow valley or gorge. It's usually found on the coast. These valleys are carved out by streams or rivers that flow into the sea. The Isle of Wight has many chines because its cliffs are made of soft rock.
How Luccombe Chine Formed
Over many, many years, a small stream has slowly worn away the soft rock of the cliffs at Luccombe. This process is called erosion. The stream cut deeper and deeper, creating the wooded valley we see today. The rocks here are from a time called the Cretaceous period, which was millions of years ago.
History and Changes
Luccombe Chine is located at the eastern end of a large area of landslip on the Isle of Wight. This area is known as the Undercliff. A landslip happens when a large mass of earth or rock slides down a slope.
A long time ago, a small fishing village was at the bottom of Luccombe Chine. But in 1910, a big landslip destroyed the entire settlement. Today, you can no longer walk down to the beach from the clifftop path. The steps that used to be there have been lost due to ongoing erosion and landslips.
