England - East Coast / Southeast Coast

Counties: Kent, Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk and Lincolnshire

The east and southeast coasts of England extend from the Thames estuary, by way of the Wash, to the south side of the River Humber, and have along their length many well-known and popular seaside resorts as well as a number of important ports. The topographical pattern of this long stretch of coast is very varied - sometimes bounded by easily eroded cliffs, elsewhere fringed by sandy beaches, often by fertile fenland reclaimed from the sea. Many hundreds of miles of embankments and dikes protect this land, much of it lying only just above sea level. This part of the English coast is sinking all the time: over the last 2,000 years it has become lower by something in the order of 39-42ft/12-13m. In spite of the length of the coast there are only a few harbors deep enough to take tankers and other large vessels.