The White Cliffs of Dover

The White Cliffs of Dover are the region of English coastline facing the Strait of Dover and France. The cliff face, which reaches a height of 350 feet (110 m), owes its striking appearance to its composition of chalk accented by streaks of black flint, deposited during the Late Cretaceous. The cliffs, on both sides of the town of Dover in Kent, stretch for eight miles (13 km). The White Cliffs of Dover form part of the North Downs. The cliffs are part of the Dover to Kingsdown Cliffs Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation. The top of the cliffs hosts a chalk grassland ecosystem with an abundance of bird, flower, and butterfly species. The cliffs mark the point where Great Britain is closest to continental Europe; on a clear day the cliffs are visible from France, approximately 20 miles (32 km) away. A celebrated UK landmark, their striking appearance has met visitors since ancient times. Julius Caesar remarked upon their appearance when he invaded Britain in 55 BC. The cliffs served as a natural defensive barrier, reinforced by the building of Dover Castle in the 11th century. The cliffs gained symbolic importance during World War II, as a symbol of Britain's resolute defense and as a welcome sight for the evacuees from Dunkirk.