The Needles, a row of three distinctive stacks of chalk that rise about 30m from the sea off the western side of the Isle of Wight, UK

---

The Needles is a row of three distinctive stacks of chalk that rise about 30m out of the sea off the western extremity of the Isle of Wight, United Kingdom, close to Alum Bay, and part of Totland, the westernmost civil parish of the Isle of Wight. The Needles Lighthouse stands at the outer, western end of the formation. Built in 1859, it has been automated since waters and adjoining seabed form part of the Needles Marine Conservation Zone and the Needles along with the shore and heath above are part of the Headon Warren and West High Down Site of Special Scientific Interest. The formation takes its name from a fourth needle-shaped pillar called Lot's Wife, that collapsed in a storm in 1764. The remaining rocks are not at all needle-like, but the name has stuck

---

Size: 3898px × 2598px
Photo credit: © Scenics & Science / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 30m, calcium, carbonate, chalk, coastal, distinctive, erosion, heather, interest, isle, needles, rise, row, scientific, sea, side, site, special, stacks, totland, uk, western, wight