Case Study - Holderness Coast Flashcards
What is the location of the Holderness Coast?
Located on the east coast of England. It extends 61km from Flamborough in the north to Spurn Point in the south.
What is Holderness known for?
The Holderness Coastline is one of Europe’s fastest eroding at an average annual rate of around 2 metres. This is around 2 million tonnes of material every year.
What is the geology of the Holderness Coast?
Underlying the Holderness Coast is bedrock made up of Cretaceous Chalk. However, in most places, this is covered by glacial till deposited over 18,000 years ago. It is this soft boulder clay that is being rapidly eroded.
How much land has been lost since roman times?
Approximately 3 miles (5kms) of land, including 23 towns/villages.
What are the two main reasons why this area is eroding so rapidly?
The first is the result of the strong prevailing winds creating destructive waves. The second is that the cliffs are made of soft boulder clay, which erodes rapidly when saturated.
