Waterloo Bay, Protected geological area in Larne, Northern Ireland
Waterloo Bay is a protected geological area on Larne's coastline where rock layers display the period from late Triassic through early Jurassic time. The exposed cliff face shows these successive stone strata in their natural sequence, each revealing a different chapter of planetary history.
The first scientific study of the Triassic and Jurassic rocks occurred in 1843 when Joseph Ellison Portlock examined the site for Ordnance Survey Ireland. This early research established the foundation for modern understanding of the region's geological character.
The name recalls the Battle of Waterloo and shapes how locals refer to this stretch of coastline. Visitors walk along the promenade and encounter these ancient rock layers framing their everyday waterfront.
Free parking is available at Larne Leisure Centre, and the geological features are best observed during low tide from the public promenade. Walking along the waterfront is possible year-round, though the rock faces are most accessible when the tide withdraws.
An ichthyosaur fossil was discovered in 1999 and is now displayed at the Ulster Museum, where visitors see the remains of these ancient marine reptiles. The mudstones also hold abundant ammonites with Psiloceras planorbis, which marks the precise boundary between Triassic and Jurassic time.
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