Chesil Beach
Dorset
Chesil Beach is a great bank of pebbles, nearly 20 kilometres in length, that links the Isle of Portland to the mainland. The pebbles are "sorted" by waves breaking on the beach - at the Island end they are large boulders, while the far end consists of small shingle.
The picture above was taken from high up on Portland (looking north-west). To the left of chesil beach is the sea, while to the right is Portland Harbour (home of HMP Weare, the UK's only floating prison). A causeway can be seen curving away to the right of the beach - this is the only road between Portland and the mainland. The large oil-storage drums to the right of the road belong to a naval base, and most of them have since been demolished.
In the distance, it is possible to see the various lagoons that lie behind the beach, sheltered from the sea by the natural breakwater. At the far end is the Abbotsbury Swannery, which is now a wildlife sanctuary.