chine

Chine is a geographic term used in parts of southern England to describe a narrow, steep-sided valley formed by the action of running water in a hillside or coastal cliff. In coastal areas, chines are formed when streams erode soft rocks along the coast, cutting gullies that extend from the cliff to the shore, sometimes forming a beach at the mouth. Inland, a chine can refer to a similar ravine cut into hillside rock.

The features are typically narrow, with vertical or near-vertical sides and a floor that may be rocky or sandy. Vegetation often thrives in the sheltered microclimate within a chine, and many have trails or steps to permit access.

Chines are characteristic of the coastlines of southern England, notably along the Jurassic Coast of Dorset and in the Isle of Wight. Notable examples include Shanklin Chine on the Isle of Wight, Boscombe Chine near Bournemouth, and Lulworth Chine near Lulworth Cove.

The term is also used in place names such as Blackgang Chine, which is a tourist theme park on the Isle of Wight, illustrating how the feature has become a cultural landmark in some communities. Etymology is uncertain; the word 'chine' is used primarily in English to describe these features and appears in several toponymic names.

While similar in appearance to gorges or ravines elsewhere, chines are defined by their formation in softer rocks and their frequent hollows along the coast.