White Cliffs of Dover

The white cliffs of Dover are perhaps one of the most easily recognisable features of the English coastline, the origins of which can be traced back approximately 136 million years.

The cliff face reaches up to heights of 350 feet in places and owes its striking appearance to a composition of white chalk and black flint. Sadly, it is eroding at quite some speed - an average rate of about one centimetre per year. However, larger sections - up to several metres in some cases - are known to have fallen into the channel with little warning.

The cliffs have great symbolic value for Britain as they face mainland Europe across the narrowest part of the English Channel, making Dover the primary route to the continent before air travel became so popular. The white line of cliffs would have been the first, or last, sight of the UK for travellers.

On a clear day the coastline can be seen by the naked eye from France.

This stamp, showing a bird's eye view of the cliffs, was released in March 2002 as part of the British Coastlines stamp issue.

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