What is Chesil Beach?
Q: What is Chesil Beach?
A: Chesil Beach, sometimes called Chesil Bank, is a shingle structure located in Dorset, southern England. It is part of the Jurassic Coast and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Q: What does its name mean?
A: The name "Chesil" is derived from the Old English ceosel or cisel, meaning "gravel" or "shingle".
Q: How long and wide is it?
A: Chesil Beach is 18 miles long (29km) and 220 yards wide (200m).
Q: What other features are associated with it?
A: The lagoon between the chesil and the mainland is called The Fleet or The Fleet Lagoon. At the eastern end of the beach at the village of Chiswell, against the cliffs of the Isle of Portland, there is also a sheltered cove which protects low-lying areas from flooding.
Q: How deep is The Fleet Lagoon?
A: The Fleet Lagoon has a depth of 9½ feet (3m).
A: What purpose does it serve for Weymouth and Chiswell?
Q: What purpose does it serve for Weymouth and Chiswell?
A: Chesil Beach provides shelter from prevailing winds (from the west) and waves for both Weymouth town and Chiswell village which would otherwise not exist.
Q: How high is Chesil Bank above mean high water level?
A:Chesil Bank stands 14.7 metres (48 ft) above mean high water level.
