Top 15 Facts About The White Cliffs of Dover


 

*Originally published by Christine M on May 2020 and Updated by Vanessa R on April 2023

Nature has a way of surprising us with exceptional things in its makings. The White Cliffs of Dover are one such surprise. This is an 8-mile and 110 meters high chalk-like façade, a result of ice-age floods. The Cliffs are located in England and are part of the beautiful Coastline of Kent.

On a clear day, you can see France from the White Cliffs of Dover. Luckiest are the passengers leaving and coming into France via ferry- they have a clear and close view of the Cliffs. Here are the top 15 fascinating facts about the White Cliffs of Dover.

1. The White Cliffs of Dover are sometimes confused for Seven Sisters Cliff

White Cliffs of Dover- by Immanuel Giel – Wikimedia Commons

You may have already caught a glimpse of the famous and globally recognized White Cliffs of Dover, only you may actually have been looking at the Seven Sisters Cliffs! The two are almost similar, but the Seven Sisters Cliff located in Sussex is smaller- difficult to assess when presented with the same white chalky exterior, especially in a motion picture.

2. The White Cliffs of Dover hide a series of tunnels

Eastern Tunnel at White Cliffs- by Robin Webster- Wikimedia Commons

Should you explore the White Cliffs of Dover, be sure to find or ask to be taken to the series of tunnels hidden behind them! The tunnels were dug during the Napoleonic War and further enlarged.

Considered an impenetrable frontier, the White Cliffs of Dover garner a great deal of national pride. However, few people realize that hidden behind the rock face are a series of tunnels leading from Dover Castle, created during the Napoleonic War.

During World War II, the tunnels were enlarged and transformed into a secret network connected to Winston Churchill’s military headquarters.  A visit here may take you back years as your imagination takes you away to the tunnels in use quite literally.

The tunnel was used to store gun battery, and they also had sound mirrors used as an early warning system to detect incoming enemy aircraft. Some great medieval strategies right there.

3. The White Cliffs of Dover were a symbol of peace

Blue Butterfly that can be found at the White Cliffs of Dover- by Gilles San Martin- Wikimedia Commons

You will find a species of a blue butterfly species atop the White Cliffs of Dover. These have been made reference to, in Vera Lynn’s hit song, which was famous in the 1940s during the war. The song popularized the Cliffs- they became a symbol of peace.

Apart from the blue butterflies, there’s plenty more flora and fauna to see at the White Cliffs of Dover, such as jackdaw, peregrine falcon, swallows, house martins, and bluebirds. You’ll be glad you carried a good camera phone or an actual camera.

The Cliffs have been referred to by other artists such as guitarist Eric Johnson in his composition known as the Cliffs of Dover, which went on to win a Grammy! EPMD had the White Cliffs of Dover as their reference for their 1992 hits, “the Crossover.”

4. The White Cliffs of Dover inspired Shakespeare

Shakespeare Cliff- by John Mavin- Wikimedia Commons

The White Cliffs of Dover have outcrops, one of which is called Shakespeare cliff, after the renowned author Shakespeare who is said to have been inspired by the cliffs, particularly for his work, “King Lear”.

Whether it’s the terrain with its flora and fauna, the chalky façade or the coastline, the White Cliffs of Dover seem to have the magic a writer needs.

5. The White Cliffs of Dover are home to Exmoor Ponies

Exmoor Ponies grazing at the White Cliffs- by Pengannel- Wikimedia Commons

Exmoor Pony herds dot the White Cliffs of Dover and do a great job at trimming the grass, thistles, and hawthorn on the Cliff. Exmoor Ponies are free-roaming and largely self- sufficient animals and one of the oldest known pony breeds.

6. Two shipwrecks are visible at the White Cliffs of Dover

Shipwreck- Pixabay

A walk on top of the White Cliffs of Dover will give you a bird’s eye view of two shipwrecks- that of the SS Falcon and Preuβen.

SS Falcon, an iron-screw steamer was ferrying hemp and matches and caught fire in 1926, while Preuβen crashed into another ship, RMS Brighton in 1910 due to a miscalculation. Shipwrecks are exciting and may make one travel back in time with imaginations of the ships’ occupants and their fate-  time capsule kind of flashback.

7. The White Cliffs of Dover hosts Samphire Hoe

Aerial view of Samphire Hoe- by Barry Hunter- Wikimedia Commons

The material that was dug out to create the Channel Tunnel was repurposed to reclaim land at White Cliffs of Dover’s foot that makes up Samphire Hoe. This is a recreational center found at the White Cliffs of Dover.

Samphire Hoe is named after the wild plant rock samphire found in the Dover cliffs, and once served as a dish! The name is joined to ‘hoe’ which simply means a piece of land sticking out to sea. The place has plenty of activities you could indulge in as well as plenty to see. You’ll be spoilt for choice between fishing, rock- pulling, cycling, bird and wildlife watching or simply taking a walk.

8. The White Cliffs of Dover is facing extinction

Erosion at White Cliffs of Dover- by Michael Rowe – Wikimedia Commons

It’s a shame that such a spectacular piece of nature may become extinct- some generations may only see the White Cliffs of Dover in pictures! A giant chunk fell off the cliff in 2013, while in 2001, a chunk as large as a football field apparently fell off! It is more worrying that the erosion is taking place at a rate faster than what has been in the past few thousand years.

White Cliffs of Dovers’ erosion is attributed to changes in storm intensity. Climate changes also bring about higher sea levels and fiercer waves making for worse erosion in the near future. As with most problems of nature, human interference is a factor- human mismanagement of the coastline is also contributing to the erosion.

9. Fossils wash up at the White Cliffs of Dover

Sea Turtle Fossil- by Reynosa Blogs- Wikimedia Commons

If you have a paleontological streak, you will be thrilled to discover some fossils at the white cliffs of Dover. These are not just any random fossils but some sea life that have been extinct since the Cretaceous period, and show up at the White Cliffs of Dover.

Imagine fossils of shark teeth, sea urchins, ventriculites and sponges, as well as that of species such as large pectens, palatal teeth oysters, ammonites, saurians, and brain corals. Some ‘collectibles’ these are!

10. The White Cliffs of Dover delayed Roman Invasion

White Cliffs of Dover as seen from the French side- by Rolf Süssbrich- Wikimedia Commons

The White Cliffs of Dover delayed the Roman Invasion of Britain. With the elevation of the cliff, anyone approaching Britain from this route would have been exposed and vulnerable. This is what Julius Ceaser and his troops encountered when they sought to invade Britain.

When looking for a place to land, Julius Ceaser apparently saw soldiers all-round the hills and was forced to retreat as he was thoroughly exposed- he found the White Cliffs of Dover unsuitable for landing.

11. The cliffs are made up of white chalk

15 Facts About The White Cliffs of Dover

kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The sedimentary rock known as white chalk, which makes up the White Cliffs of Dover, is made up of the remains of little marine animals known as coccolithophores. These animals accumulated on the ocean floor over millions of years, creating layers of sediment that were eventually crushed and uplifted to create the cliffs we see today.

Since calcium carbonate, the main component of chalk, reflects light and gives it a dazzling, white appearance, chalk is white. A peculiar ecology of plants and animals that live on and around the cliffs is created by the chalk’s high porosity, which allows water to pass through it.

12. It’s a popular destination for hikers and walkers

15 Facts About The White Cliffs of Dover

kallerna, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The White Cliffs of Dover are a well-liked location for hikers and walkers, and a number of routes there give breathtaking views of the cliffs and the surrounding area. The region is a section of the North Downs Way, a long-distance footpath that connects the Surrey town of Farnham with the Dover shore.

Professional hikers or even beginners would enjoy the trails here because of the different levels of difficulty. You can see wildlife, plants as well as historic buildings like the Dover Castle and the South Foreland Lighthouse along the route.

13. The cliff has been used as a filming location

There have been many films and television series that have used the White Cliffs of Dover as a backdrop. Historical and military-themed movies such as the “World War II epic” “The longest Day” and moments from the James Bond blockbuster “Moonraker” or the famous Netflix series “The Crown” have used the cliffs as a filming location.

14. The cliffs were mentioned by Julius Caesar 

The Roman commander and statesman Julius Caesar is believed to have introduced the White Cliffs of Dover to written history. The cliffs were described by Julius Caesar as “a series of exceedingly high mountains, which in appearance resemble white clouds” in his report of the Gallic War.

He mentioned that the indigenous tribes used the cliffs as a lookout point and that they were an important marker for sailors traveling the English Channel. Caesar’s account of the cliffs was one of the first documented descriptions of the region and contributed to establishing its importance as a strategic location for both commercial and military purposes.

15. Over half a million people visit the cliffs every year

Over 500,000 people visit the White Cliffs of Dover yearly, making them a well-known tourist attraction. It is quite the spot to explore as tourists from all over the world visit either hike, cycle or visit historical monuments like Dover Castle and the South Foreland lighthouse, there are a number of activities that tourists who love nature can enjoy at the cliffs.

The beauty and charm of the White Cliffs of Dover make the many invasion attempts it has suffered throughout its history understandably. Their location and proximity to Continental Europe are also desirable. The Cliffs are spectacular and a must-see. Arm yourself with a good pair of shoes and layer up as the weather there can change, and go on to discover the White Cliffs of Dover.

 

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