London Basin

The geological record of London Basin goes back to 50 million years and this geological formation is habitat for several woods and water birds.

Location and borders of London Basin

The London Basin is nothing but an extended triangular ‘syncline’ made of a sequence of stony layers which covers around 250 kilometers of area. This region spreads along London and a great region of south eastern East Anglia and south eastern England. The syncline of London Basin is joined with the nearby bend of Weald anticline. Chilterns chalk escarpment and Marlborough Downs are considered as the northern limit of London basin, while Salisbury plain and Weald have bordered the terrain on the south. Marlborough region of Wiltshire denotes the western border of London Basin.

Geological features of London Basin

The fundamental element lying below the London

basin is the Cretaceous chalk which lies openly on the dip inclines of North Downs and Chilterns region. The core section of this terrain is primarily comprised of frosty and riverine sedimentation, Palaeocene, Eocene and stones. Majority portion of the basin is filled up with a mass of Paleozoic stones that have made up the London Platform which is a significant part of London basin.

About London Basin

The geological past of London Basin shows that it was created about 50 million years ago and consisted of clay deposits and sand. Apart from the different districts of London, the remaining portion of the Basin is covered by dense woods, extensive meadows and park areas.

River Thames along with its widespread group of tributaries drains the Basin of London. A great number of canals and plants have pervaded the terrain. Several flooded crushed rock cavities and reservoirs are there which house a wide variety of birds.