Case study- the Dorset coast
Land uses
The relative importance of land uses will vary, depending on the nature of the rocks and the physical landscape. Forestry will be more important in a glaciated area, such as the Lake District, than in a A place where the land meets the sea. like the Dorset coast.
Three land uses which are important on the Dorset coast are: An activity undertaken during leisure time. and The business of providing holidays for people travelling for pleasure. These travellers are called tourists. , farming, and industry. The most important being tourism.
Farming
A warm, sunny climate with fertile clay soils on the flat land behind the coast provides opportunities for both arable and pastoral The cultivation of plants or rearing of animals for food..
When oysters ( a type of seafood) are raised for human consumption., When mussels (a type of seafood) are raised for human consumption. and fishing takes place at Poole A sheltered area of water that boats and ships use.
Industry
There are different types of industries located along the Dorset coast:
- Oil - Britain’s sixth-largest An area either on land or under the sea that contains the resources oil. is located at Poole Harbour.
- The removal of rocks from the land. – high quality limestone is quarried on the Isle of Portland.
- Sheltered harbours, eg Portland Harbour, which provide direct access to the English Channel – a major shipping route for imports and exports to and from Europe.
- The Bournemouth Conference Centre is a service The type of work that people do. that helps to provide year-round jobs.
Recreation and tourism
The Dorset coast has many resorts, eg Swanage, providing tourist services including hotels, Objects that tourists buy to remind them of a holiday. shops and restaurants.
Beautiful beaches such as Chesil Beach enable sunbathing and beach sports to take place.
The Dorset coast provides opportunities for different water sports. These include swimming, A type of water sport where a person wearing skies is pulled behind a boat. , A type of water sport which combines surfing and sailing. and A type of water sport which sailing or boating..
There are a number of An area of interest which has important links to past times. which bring visitors to the area. These include Corfe Castle, Thomas Hardy's cottage and a number of historic ruins. Activities also include An activity which involves people searching for imprints of ancient plants or animals in rocks., and the unusual The study of rocks. of the area enables educational groups to study a variety of rock types.
The area along the Dorset coast has many A trail that follows the line of the coast., eg the South West Coast Path where walkers can enjoy the stunning and varied scenery. People come to see and photograph landscape features such as Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door, Old Harry and Tilly Whim Caves.
The coastline also has diverse Non-domesticated/wild plants and animals., because of the variety of habitats that are formed here such as Small ridges or hills of sand found at the top of a beach., lagoons, salt flats and calm bays. Durlston Head is famous for An activity which involves people observing different species of birds., whilst Brownsea Island A protected area where plants and animals are conserved. is home to red squirrel and wildfowl.
Renewable energy
There is the potential to generate electricity through wind and wave power in this area, in addition to A thermal power plant where the heat source is a nuclear reactor. as there is plenty of sea-water to cool the reactors.
