Whale Chine facts for kids
Whale Chine is a cool natural spot on the south-west coast of the Isle of Wight, England. It's a deep, narrow valley that cuts through the cliffs down to the sea. This type of valley is called a "chine." Whale Chine drops about 140 feet from the top of the cliff to the beach below. It was formed over many years by a stream slowly wearing away the soft rocks.
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What is a Chine?
A chine is like a mini-canyon carved by water. On the Isle of Wight, these chines are made when streams flow over the edge of cliffs. The water slowly erodes the soft rocks, creating these steep-sided valleys. Whale Chine is one of the most famous ones on the island.
Getting There and the Steps
You can find Whale Chine from a car park on the A3055 coastal road. A small stream flows next to the cliff and then turns sharply to go down to the beach.
In the past, there were about 126 wooden steps that led down to the beach. These steps were closed in 2005 because they became unsafe. Sadly, big storms in 2013 and 2014 washed most of them away. Even though local fishermen have tried to carve new steps into the rock, it's not safe to use them. The beach is currently hard to reach for visitors.
Ancient Rocks and Fossils
The cliffs at Whale Chine are very old! They are made of rocks that formed about 150 million years ago. Back then, this area was a huge river and floodplain.
These cliffs are famous for their fossils. You can often find fossils in sandy layers that were left behind by ancient flash floods. These sandy spots often contain fossilized wood that looks shiny because it has a mineral called pyrite in it. The fossils found here are usually broken into pieces. This happened because they were carried by fast-moving floodwaters a long, long time ago.
Fishing at Whale Chine
Whale Chine is a popular place for people who love to fish. The water here is very clear, and the seabed is mostly sandy with some rocky areas.
Lots of different fish can be caught here. It's especially known as one of the best spots on the island for catching rays. The best time for ray fishing is from March to October. During the summer, you can also catch other fish like mackerel and bass. Sometimes, big groups of mackerel and bass even chase smaller fish like whitebait right onto the shore! In the winter, fishing slows down a bit, and the most common fish caught is the pout.
Shipwreck Story
Whale Chine has a bit of history too. On December 21, 1886, a cargo ship named the Cormorant was wrecked right here. It's a reminder of how powerful the sea can be.
