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These
two natural wonders are now being pitted against the winners of
other regional votes.
Here's
a brief look at the winners to remind you why they were voted as
our favourite natural wonders.
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| The
Needles |
The
Needles are huge stacks of rock which lay just off the western point
of the Isle of Wight. These stacks originally made up part of the
cliffs but, over time, coastal erosion has separated them from the
headland and they are now considered to be islands. They are formed
from chalk and flint and rise to about 30 metres above sea level.
The Needles are best viewed from Alum Bay, known for its coloured
sands.
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| Durdle
Door |
This
world famous rock structure is a geological wonder. The huge, natural
limestone arch sits right on the Jurassic Coastline between Swanage
and Weymouth and is just along the coast from Lulworth Cove. The
arch has formed because less resilient rock has been eroded, leaving
the limestone behind.
The
other natural wonders you voted for were:
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| Portsdown
Hill |
This
chalk escarpment in Portsmouth reaches 120 metres high and boasts
spectacular views across the sea to the Isle of Wight. The fossils
of sea urchins and other creatures have been found here proving
that its history dates back some 60 million years and that the chalk
was formed in marine waters several hundred metres deep. The layers
of chalk were pushed upwards to form Portsdown Hill as a result
of a Continental drift. During pre-historic times, the hill would
have been covered in woodland and it is still a haven for wildlife
today.
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| Lulworth
Cove |
Lulworth
Cove in Dorset is a beautiful scallop-shaped cove which was formed
over millions of years and is a great place for swimming and diving.
It has recently been added into the World Heritage Jurassic Coastline.
Lulworth has its very own butterfly. Named the 'Lulworth Skipper'
it was discoved near Durdle Door in 1832.
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| Sandbanks
near Evening Hill |
Evening
Hill is located near Sandbanks in Poole and is a site of Special
Scientific Interest. The area is made up of grassland, scrub and
heathland. People visit Evening Hill because of its excellent views
of Poole Harbour, Brownsea Island and the Purbeck Hills. It is home
to a lots of wildlife, especially birds such as Curlews and Redshanks.
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| Hengistbury
Head |
This
36 metre high sandstone headland is about 1 kilometre in length
and is situated between the entrance to Poole harbour and Hurst
spit. The original formation of Hengistbury Head dates back approximately
60 million years. This spot was arguably the premier port for the
import of continental goods such as Italian wine during 100 BC.
Some historians have referred to it as the first urban settlement
in England.
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| Chesil
Beach |
Chesil
Beach in Dorset, also known as Chesil Bank, stretches from Bridport
harbour to Chesil Bay in the Isle of Portland - a distance of approximately
29 kilometres. The gently curved stretch can reach up to 18 metres
high and forms a substantial defence against south-westerly storms.
The bank is composed of millions of pebbles and one of its most
interesting features is that the pebbles gradually decrease in size
from Portland to West Bay. Experienced night fishermen can tell
their position on the beach by the size of the stones.
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