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You are here: Story of the Jurassic Coast > Geology > Discover by Area > Orcombe Point to the River Otter
This westernmost end of the World Heritage Site in East Devon geology represents the desert environments of the Late Permian to Mid Triassic [265-240 million years ago] and contains excellent examples of faults and easterly dipping layers. The rocks here show evidence of sand dunes, seasonal rivers and flash floods, among other desert landforms. There are traces of Triassic plant roots, known as rhizoconcretions as well as radioactive nodules and relics of much older Palaeozoic fossils that can be found within Budleigh Salterton pebbles. Subsequent erosion of the cliffs has recycled ancient pebbles from within the cliffs to form the storm beach at Budleigh Salterton. This area showcases the aftermath of the Permian mass extinction, an event which led to the loss of approximately 75% of living things.
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