Places on the Triassic Coast.
Picture Galleries.
Places on the Jurassic Coast.
Picture Galleries.
Places on the Cretaceous Coast.
Picture Galleries.
Portland and Portland Bill.
Portland is situated approximately half-way along the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. Portland is a tied island, the only way off the island is a road the highest point of which lies below the highest tide sea level in the lee of Chesil Beach.
This crane at Portland Bill is now only used to raise and lower boats over the side of the rock platform.
The distinctively white and red striped Portland Bill Lighthouse, which was built in 1906 and is 35 metres (115 ft) high at the tip of Portland Bill.
The Trinity House Light House at the tip of Portland Bill.
Chesil Beach from the viewing point above Fortuneswell.
Looking over Chesil beach and Portland Harbour, the venue for the 2012 Sailing Olympics.
In the distance can be seen the Lower Lighthouse which is now a bird observatory.
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Portland is connected to the mainland at Abbotsbury by Chesil Beach, a tombolo which runs 8 miles to West Bay near Bridport; Chesil Beach is a tombolo, a spit joined to land at both ends.
Portland stone has almost certainly been used as a building material since Roman times and is a limestone from the Tithonian stage of the Jurassic period formed in a marine environment, on the floor of a shallow, warm, sub-tropical sea.
Portland stone was used to build the Palace of Westminster in 1347, the Tower of London in 1349 and the first stone London Bridge. Other famous buildings constructed in Portland stone include St. Paul's Cathedral, the British Museum 1753, Somerset House 1792, the Bank of England, Mansion House and the National Gallery.
The large, deep artificial harbour on Portland's northern shore was once a Naval Base but now is home to the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy who will host the sailing events for the 2012 Olympic Games.