Coast Finder Trivia Quiz

You might be forgiven for expecting me to tell you there are dinosaurs roaming this part of southern England, but it's the Jurassic Coast, not Park! Stretching from East Devon to East Dorset, the Jurassic Coast was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2001.

The area is rich in fossils that have contributed to the study and understanding of the evolution of plants and animals of the region. Interesting natural formations include the natural arch called Durdle Door and pinnacles like Old Harry Rocks. Landslips and rockfalls can be a danger to those walking the South West Coast Path, though it is possible to use this to walk the length of the coast.

Named for the unusual colour of the rocks along its shore, this stretch of coast in northern Brittany, France, is known in English as the Pink Granite Coast. Located in the Cotes d'Armor departement and stretching about thirty kilometres, the coast's attractions include the granite lighthouse at Ploumanac'h, pink sands, tidal pools and interesting rock formations.

It has been said that this 240 km stretch of Portugal's Atlantic coast was dubbed "The Silver Coast" (Costa de Prata), because of the way the sunlight makes the waves shimmer. Sitting between the possibly better known Costa Verde and Costa de Lisboa, an hour or so north of the capital, Lisbon, it is also described as being "unspoiled" - which can sometimes be a curse, as tourists flock in to a "new" destination. Sporting possibilities include surfing and windsurfing, as well as more relaxing beach activities.

The first of four Spanish Mediterranean costas represented here is the Sun Coast, which is known in some places to be the Costa where the rich people come to play. Located in Andalusia's Malaga and Cadiz provinces this coast includes fashionable resorts like Marbella and the birthplace of Pablo Picasso (Malaga). Yacht harbours, beautiful beaches, numerous golf courses and proximity to Gibraltar are all calling cards of this stretch of Spain's coast.

Almeria province, in Andalusia, was one of the last holdouts against Franco during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s, and one of the slowest to recover from the hardships of that time. It's also where I lived for nineteen years, during which time its recovery took the shape of increased tourism and agriculture under plastic tunnels.

The area's main airport is in the city of Almeria, and resort towns like Roquetas and Mojacar co-exist with working fishing towns like Garrucha. The hillsides of the province have stood in for those of the American west in many a movie.

The Costa Blanca (White Coast) is located in Alicante province, Valencia region, of Spain and covers at least 200 km of coastline. The name is said to have come from the way the sun reflects from the whitewashed walls of many of the area's buildings (though this occurs in other places as well). Attractions include the Santa Barbara castle in the city of Alicante, the nightlife in places like Benidorm and the "hanging houses" of Villajoyosa.

The name Costa Brava means "rugged" or "wild" coast, and was coined as early as the 1960s to promote the area to tourists looking for an interesting destination. Located in Catalonia, the coast's exact extent is the object of some discussion, but can be thought of as covering an area from just north of Barcelona to the French border, making it a very large area. Girona, a medieval city, is one of the attractions of the Costa Brava, as are the ruins of Empuries and the Emporada wineries.

The language spoken by most of the people here is Catalan, rather than Spanish.

Also known as the French Riviera, the Mediterranean coastal region of the county of Nice was dubbed the Cote d'Azur because of its bright blue sky that matches the blue of the sea (or so it is said). Regarded by many as the glamourous playground of the rich and famous, the area is home to the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, the glorious Saint-Tropez beaches and even all of Monaco and its Monte Carlo casino, and Formula 1 race in May.

The climate is Mediterranean and the language spoken is French.

Despite its relatively short frontage of 50 km (34 miles) or slightly more, the Amalfi Coast of Italy's Campania region has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, for its topographical beauty as well as its cultural heritage. Located a short distance from Naples, on the Sorrentine Peninsula, it overlooks the Bay of Salerno and features sheer cliffs, small beaches and colourful fishing villages. Though tourism is the main industry of the area, it is also famed for the production of limoncello liqueur and other local products (including a particular type of anchovy).

The Dalmatian Coast, or Dalmatia, is the long skinny arm of Croatia that runs down the coast of the Adriatic, between the sea and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The area was named after its early inhabitants, the Dalmatae, and has given its name to the black and white spotted dog breed that originated in the region.
As well as major cities like Split and Dubrovnik, the area includes many islands, beautiful beaches and waterfalls in Krka National Park amongst its many attractions.