Fossil Cliff of Sangatte

Open Spaces tagsQuaternary tags

The Sangatte Fossil Cliff is a fascinating geological site, witness to several thousand years of natural evolution. This exceptional natural monument is made up of geological layers dating back to the Quaternary period, offering visitors a unique window into the geological past of the region.

Sangatte

The site is accessible all year round

Free

Dogs welcome

Facilities

  • Viewpoint
  • Car parking
  • Accessible by public transport
  • Cycle parking

Geosite details

The Sangatte Fossil Cliff is a fascinating geological site, witness to several thousand years of natural evolution. This exceptional natural monument is made up of geological layers dating back to the Quaternary period, offering visitors a unique window into the geological past of the region. Unlike typical cliffs, the Sangatte cliff is inclined at a 30° angle, which allows you to discover fossil strata that bear witness to the history of sea level fluctuations over the millennia. Among these layers, an ancient fossilized beach is visible, suspended halfway up the cliff, an impressive remnant of a time when the sea covered much of the current land. This phenomenon is rare and makes Sangatte a site of remarkable geological importance. The surrounding landscape is also great for hiking and exploring. Visitors can stroll along the coastline, admire the rock formations, and enjoy panoramic views of the English Channel and, on a clear day, the English coast. The site is particularly popular with geology enthusiasts, but also with families and hikers wishing to enjoy the natural beauty of the Opal Coast. is particularly popular with geology enthusiasts, but also with families and hikers wishing to enjoy the natural beauty of the Opal Coast.

The 'Big Bang'

13.8 billion years ago

Earth formed

4.6 billion years ago

 

540 million years ago

The Cambrian explosion of life: animals evolved and diversified as never before on Earth.

Devonian

419 million years ago

390 million years ago the oldest rocks you can see in the Geopark date back to the Middle Devonian. They are still quarried today in the Marquise basin in France.

Carboniferous

359 million years ago

Around 325 million years ago the Geopark was near the equator. The swamp forests from that period are preserved as coal, which was formerly mined in the Marquise basin in France as well as in East Kent and the Nord-Pas-de-Calais.

Permian

299 million years ago

Triassic

252 million years ago

210 million years ago the Geopark was in the centre of the Pangaea supercontinent, and dinosaurs roamed the land!

Jurassic

201 million years ago

150 million years ago the Geopark was submerged under the sea, the sands, clays, limestones, and sandstones that compose the Boulonnais region in France were deposited.

Cretaceous

145 million years ago

Over about 40 million years from 100-60 million years ago, Chalk formed at the bottom of a warm, shallow sea where the Geopark is located today. This was the first step towards the formation of our distinctive chalk landscape, which defines much of the Geopark.

Palaeogene

66 million years ago

Tectonic activity around 40 million years ago uplifted the territory of the Geopark by dozens of metres, creating an extensive chalk landscape that connected France and Great Britain.

Neogene

23 million years ago

Quaternary

2.6 million years ago

450,000 years ago, a megaflood destroyed the chalk ridge connecting Calais and Dover, creating the iconic white cliffs of the Geopark we see today

Getting here

Fossil Cliff of Sangatte

Route Départementale D940, 62231 Sangatte, France

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