In many ways, the county of Sussex is defined by its geography.
Natural boundaries and land formations lie at the root of the boundaries that have divided the county and now form the political entities, East and West Sussex.
The Sussex climate is determined by the shape of the land and its proximity to the sea.
The resources offered by the Weald fueled the area industries and played a part in the county's ironworks even until the 19th century.
The shape of the land has shaped many aspects of the county of Sussex, both past and present.
Sussex geography is easily divided into three main areas or features.
All of these areas are shaped by their orientation on the southern part of the Wealden anticline, but each exhibits this in very different ways from the others.
These primary features of Sussex are the Weald, the South Downs, and the Vale of Sussex which divides the two.
Each area presents its own distinct form of Sussex geography.
The Weald derives its name from the Old English word for forest and that is just what it is.
This area is all that remains of the forests that once covered the area between the North and South Downs.
Even now, it is estimated to hold the highest remaining proportion of ancient woodlands in the country.
The Weald can and has been broken down even further into discrete areas including the High Weald, the Low Weald, and Greensand Ridge.
The South Downs is a ridge comprised of many summits exceeding heights of 212 metres though the average height is more like 152 metres.
The ridge itself has been formed of chalk and it extends from Hampshire to Eastbourne.
The summit of the ridge is about 16 km from the sea.
As it approaches the coast, it ends in Beachy Head.
The Vale is the site of most of the rivers that traverse the area.
It offers the path of least resistance between the Weald and the Downs since it was formed by wearing away the soft clays that separate the two.
Rivers rise on the Weald and then cut through the Downs to approach the nearby sea.
Though these are the most memorable, there are other important features of the Sussex geography as well.
They include marshlands, coastal plains, valleys and rivers.
Natural boundaries and land formations lie at the root of the boundaries that have divided the county and now form the political entities, East and West Sussex.
The Sussex climate is determined by the shape of the land and its proximity to the sea.
The resources offered by the Weald fueled the area industries and played a part in the county's ironworks even until the 19th century.
The shape of the land has shaped many aspects of the county of Sussex, both past and present.
Sussex geography is easily divided into three main areas or features.
All of these areas are shaped by their orientation on the southern part of the Wealden anticline, but each exhibits this in very different ways from the others.
These primary features of Sussex are the Weald, the South Downs, and the Vale of Sussex which divides the two.
Each area presents its own distinct form of Sussex geography.
The Weald derives its name from the Old English word for forest and that is just what it is.
This area is all that remains of the forests that once covered the area between the North and South Downs.
Even now, it is estimated to hold the highest remaining proportion of ancient woodlands in the country.
The Weald can and has been broken down even further into discrete areas including the High Weald, the Low Weald, and Greensand Ridge.
The South Downs is a ridge comprised of many summits exceeding heights of 212 metres though the average height is more like 152 metres.
The ridge itself has been formed of chalk and it extends from Hampshire to Eastbourne.
The summit of the ridge is about 16 km from the sea.
As it approaches the coast, it ends in Beachy Head.
The Vale is the site of most of the rivers that traverse the area.
It offers the path of least resistance between the Weald and the Downs since it was formed by wearing away the soft clays that separate the two.
Rivers rise on the Weald and then cut through the Downs to approach the nearby sea.
Though these are the most memorable, there are other important features of the Sussex geography as well.
They include marshlands, coastal plains, valleys and rivers.