Lyme Bay is situated in the southwest of England, between Torbay in the west and
Portland in the east. The bay faces into the English Channel and stretches across a coastal area that includes two counties,
Devon and Dorset. Lyme Bay is part of the fossil-rich World Heritage Site, the
Jurassic Coast . Famous world-wide for its brilliant Jurassic geology, the Jurassic Coast includes a large range of important fossil zones. Lyme Bay has long been a favourite for diving with not just wonderful marine wildlife to attract the divers, but also features such as tank wrecks left over from the
D-Day practice. Just like much of the coastline in the South-West of England, Lyme Bay is very important for wildlife. The marine life found there is thought by some to be amongst the best found in Britain. Rare creatures like the Devon cup coral (Caryophyllia smithii) and rare pink sea fan (Eunicella verrucosa) are found there. Unfortunately, the fragile reefs off Lyme Bay are under threat from scallop dredging which threatens to destroy the coral's delicate habitat. Devon Wildlife Trust has campaigned very hard to protect the reefs and has urged for an end to the dredging and trawling within a 60 square mile zone. So far only 20% of this proposed area has been put under protection by voluntary agreements between fishermen and DEFRA.
More British Natural features?
Other Dorset Naturals
Durdle Door
Jurassic Coast
Portland Bill
Purbeck Hills
Old Harry Rocks
Lyme Bay
Cranborne Chase
Lulworth Cove
Chesil Beach
Poole Harbour
Brownsea Island
River Axe
Golden Cap
Blackmore Vale
Marshwood Vale
Studland
Melbury Beacon and Melbury Down
Brit Quote:
A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life. - Charles Darwin
More Quotes
|
|
On this day:
First Post Office Pillar Box - 1852, Manchester Martyrs Hanged - 1867, Launch of the Cutty Sark - 1869, Far from the Madding Crowd Published - 1874, First Royal Command Performance - 1897, Crippen hanged - 1910, First Episode of Doctor Who - 1963, Oxford Circus Tube Fire - 1984
More dates from British history
|