South English chalk formation
South English chalk formation is the collective term for several hills in the south of England that are made of chalk . These include Salisbury Plain , Chiltern Hills , North Downs and South Downs, and the Isle of Wight .
The North Downs are in the counties of Surrey and Kent , the South Downs in Sussex . Both form a long range of hills that begin in the chalk formations of Dorset and Hampshire and stretch to the south-east coast. Between the Downs is the Weald area , where the chalk has eroded into a much flatter landscape .
In the county of Wiltshire are the Salisbury Plain , the Wiltshire Downs and the Cranborne Chase . These are known for their numerous archaeological sites. In these hill regions Augustus Pitt Rivers developed the methods of modern archaeological fieldwork in the 19th century. In the north, the Berkshire Downs with the famous White Horse Hill and the Chiltern Hills join.
In the extreme southwest of the formation are the Dorset Downs , also known for Roman and pre-Roman sites, including numerous Iron Age hill forts. The Purbeck Hills , which run along the Jurassic Coast , branch off from the Dorset Downs . This coastal landscape in the county of Dorset is a UNESCO World Heritage Site .
Where the chalk hills meet the sea, they sometimes form steeply sloping white cliffs. Examples include the Rocks of Dover , the Seven Sisters in Sussex and The Needles on the Isle of Wight. Similar chalk cliffs can also be found on the other side of the English Channel in northern France .