Photo 23 (Return)

View southeast across Chale Bay from Whale Chine, 2001. Cliffs up to 45m high formed of sandstones of the Lower Greensand Formation retreat at 0.6 to 0.7 metres per annum by rockfall, and seepage erosion. Retreat yields fine sediments that are lost offshore in suspension and sands that contribute to the sandy lower foreshore. Small quantities of gravel are supplied from superficial deposits at the cliff top, but incoming drift from the northwest probably makes a more important contribution to the gravel upper beach.