Stevns Klint

Stevns Klint is a white chalk and limestone cliff on the coast of Zealand, and within its layers lies a thin dark line of clay, the fossil trace of the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs some sixty-six million years ago. That globally important geological record earned it UNESCO status, alongside a cliff-edge medieval church.

Background

The cliff runs for 17 km along the coast some 6 km southeast of Store Heddinge and reaches up to 40 metres in height. The exposed rock comes from the uppermost Maastrichtian, 72 to 66 million years ago, called the Tor Formation, and from the lowermost Danian, 66 to 62 million years ago, represented by the Rødvig and Stevns Klint formations. The fish clay between them is mostly five to ten centimeters thick. Researchers have identified more than 830 macrofauna species here. Højerup Old Church on the cliff top dates from 1200; a landslide in 1928 carried its chancel down to the shore, and a new church, finished in 1913, stands 300 metres back from the edge.

Source: Wikipedia, "Stevns Klint"

The landscape

• The fish clay layer - the thin dark line marking the dinosaur extinction event.
• The chalk cliffs - the white coastal faces above the sea.
• The old church - the medieval church perched on the crumbling cliff edge.
• The visitor centre - the museum explaining the extinction and geology.

When to go

The warm months for the cliff-top walks and the beach; a clear day suits the white chalk. The visitor centre is a good year-round anchor.

What to expect

The famous extinction layer is a thin, subtle line, so the visitor centre's context makes it come alive rather than a dramatic sight in itself. The cliffs erode, so parts of the old church have already fallen, and edges are dangerous. It is a specialised geological visit.

Nearby

Mons Klint lies across the water; Copenhagen is about an hour away.

Key facts