Otter Cove facts for kids
Otter Cove is a small, hidden beach on the south coast of England. It's located in Devon, between the towns of Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton. This special spot is part of the famous Jurassic Coast, which is a World Heritage Site. This means it's a very important place for its history and geology. Sadly, you can't easily reach Otter Cove from the land anymore. A big landslide made the path unsafe.
The land above the cove, called Straight Point, is used by the Royal Marines. They are a part of the British military, and they use this area for training.
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What is the Jurassic Coast?
The Jurassic Coast is a 95-mile stretch of coastline in southern England. It's famous for its amazing rock formations and fossils. These rocks tell a story of 185 million years of Earth's history. It's like a giant outdoor museum!
The Rocks of Otter Cove
The cliffs around Otter Cove are made mostly of two types of rock. These are mudstone and red sandstone. These rocks formed about 245 million years ago. This was during a time called the Triassic period.
How the Rocks Formed
The rocks here are very red. This color tells us something important. It means they formed in a hot, dry desert long, long ago. The mudstone comes from fine mud that settled in ancient lakes or rivers. The sandstone comes from sand that was blown by the wind or carried by water.
Exploring the Cliffs
If you look at the cliffs east of Straight Point, you can see layers of sandstone. It's like looking at a giant layered cake! You can only get to a small part of this coastline. You have to walk along the rocky shore from Littleham Cove when the tide is low. These rocky shores have many natural holes, like giant puddles. There's even a cool cave near Otter Cove.
A Change in the Rocks
In one corner of Littleham Cove, there's a big change in the rocks. This is called a fault, which is like a crack in the Earth's crust. South of this fault, the rocks are different. Here, you'll find sandstones that were formed by rivers. These rocks have coarser, darker grains. They start to look like a type of rock called breccia, which is made of sharp, broken rock pieces.
