Stevns Klint


Stevns Klint is a white chalk cliff located some southeast of Store Heddinge on the Danish island of Zealand. Stretching along the coast, it is of geological importance as one of the best exposed Cretaceous-Tertiary boundaries in the world. Subject to frequent erosion, the cliff rises to a height of up to. The cliffs are a UNESCO site.

Geology

The cliff reveals sections from the uppermost part of the Maastrichtian stage and from the lowermost part of the Danian stage. The dark layer of fiskeler, mainly five to ten centimeters thick, clearly marks the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary. The fiskeler is enriched in iridium, a fact used as an argument for the Alvarez hypothesis that the worldwide Cretaceous–Paleogene mass extinction was caused by the impact of an asteroid. The layers can also be seen deep in the tunnels of Stevnsfortet, a cold-war fortress constructed in 1953. The bryozoa chalk in the cliff is highly shock resistant to both conventional and nuclear weapons.

Cold War museum

In 2008 Cold War Museum Stevns Fortress opened to the public. It features a large exhibition of military equipment and a 1.5-hour guided tour in the large underground system of the fortress. The underground system of the fortress features of tunnels, living quarters and command centers, including a hospital and a chapel. There are also two ammunition depots for its two cannons. The tunnels are below the surface, dug deep into the chalk of Stevns. The top-secret fortress was built in 1953 and remained operational until 2000.

Højerup Church

The old Højerup Church which stands at the top of the cliff dates from the year 1200. As a result of erosion, a landslide in 1928 caused the chancel to collapse and fall to the shore below. The cliff can be accessed via steps from the church. A new church completed in 1913 is located back from the cliff.

UNESCO listing

On 23 June 2014 it was announced that Stevns Klint and the Wadden Sea had been added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in Denmark.