Møns Klint

Why this place matters

UNESCO’s assessment of its heritage significance, adapted in formatting from the source dataset.

Brief synthesis

The distinctive landscape of Møns Klint, with its dramatic chalk cliffs and rolling hills, is of exceptional importance for its geology and geomorphology, and is one of the largest and best described glaciotectonic complexes in the world. The white cliffs along the property’s coastline are formed in large sheets of Cretaceous chalk that were pushed and piled up during the last glaciation period, the Pleistocene. The property spans a coastline of six kilometres and almost five kilometres inland represented by parallel marginal ridge hills from three different glacio-directions. The combination of the rolling landscape and coastal cliff profile on the easternmost tip of the property contains the primary physiographical attributes representing its Outstanding Universal Value.

Erosional forces from waves and weathering have exposed a spectacular cross-section that reveals the inner architecture of the entire complex from south to north, presenting a unique window into its glaciotectonic deformation. This cross section of chalk cliffs is six kilometres long and reaches 200 metres in height. Erosion continuously exposes fossils and reshapes the cliffs, and whilst some of the complex has been lost by the erosive action of the sea, traces remain in the seabed. The understanding of glaciotectonics—the deformation of sediments and shallow rocks driven by the power of ice masses or glaciers—has been significantly advanced through scientific studies at Møns Klint, which also provides outstanding insight into the ancient Pleistocene climate.

Beyond these geological values, the steep white cliffs form jagged white towers situated above turquoise waters, stony black flint beaches, and crowned by green beech tree forests on top, lending to a striking aesthetic experience for visitors to the eastern Isle of Møn. The area also supports rare habitats like calcareous grasslands and beech forests, hosting diverse flora and fauna, including eighteen species of orchid, and the rare Large Blue butterfly.

Criterion (viii):

Møns Klint is an outstanding example of Pleistocene glacial landscapes formed by deformation, and is one of the world’s largest glaciotectonic complexes. It contains significant geomorphic and physiographic features, as illustrated through the landscape and a well exposed cross section that offers a unique insight into the glaciotectonic structures. It provides a unique testimony of the advances of specific glacial ice streams, including their extent, fast flow and dynamics. It reveals intense shallow folding and faulting of Cretaceous chalk and Quaternary sediments.

The marginal hills provide an important overview of the morphological structures throughout the entire complex, including the number and direction of the glacial advances that created the glaciotectonic structures and formed the landscape. They, thereby, also provide an illustrative example of a classic glacial landscape that Pleistocene glaciers have impacted and formed throughout the Northern Hemisphere, and that now cover immense parts of the continental lowland areas.

Integrity

The size and boundaries of the property cover almost the entire three-dimensional glaciotectonic complex. The area integrates a significant, multi-phase, glaciotectonic complex that illustrates all classic structural geological and geomorphological features. Thanks to the intactness and scale of the exposed cross section feature, Møns Klint continues to play a key-role in the scientific discipline of glaciotectonics by providing exceptional insights into the ancient climate and linked glacial processes of the Pleistocene. The range of features and the excellent access for study at Møns Klint provides high quality information about the conditions at the time of, and that gave rise to, these distinctive geological signatures.

It not only supports a detailed reconstruction of this past glacial episode but importantly advances the wider understanding of glaciotectonic processes. Erosion is a natural part of the coastal system and is thus anticipated to affect the property and its coastal boundaries over time. Climate change and sea level changes will potentially create impacts through possible changes to the current erosion regime, requiring ongoing monitoring.

Protection and management requirements

The entirety of the six kilometres of coastline and 300 metres inland is protected by the national Beach Protection Zone under the Nature Conservation Act. The same Act also ensures the protection of natural features and geomorphological structures in the easternmost and most significant part of the property through the so-called Høje Møn Protection that prohibits any land use changes, planting of trees or construction of buildings that would disturb the unhindered views of the landscape. The property as a whole is further protected from inappropriate development through overlapping measures in the national Planning Act. These include the general Coastal Proximity Zone (extending from the coastline and three kilometers inland), land zoning regulations, as well as provisions concerning the specific geological interests and landscape values.

Strengthening the measures for the protection and management of geoheritage will remain a continuous focus in the management of the property. This also includes ensuring the active involvement and consultation of landowners and the local community. Beyond natural threats of erosion and possible climate change impacts, future growth of tourism and potential infrastructure development around Møns Klint requires appropriate monitoring and planning. It is important to analyse the ecological and social carrying capacity of the property and its buffer zone, and to ensure that the property’s sustainable tourism strategy reflects these findings, while also providing guidance on appropriate activities in the property that respect its Outstanding Universal Value.

The Danish Nature Agency is responsible for management of the public lands within the property and its buffer zone. Within the property, the private estate of Klintholm Gods is the only landowner with large-scale agriculture and forestry, as well as natural grasslands, all of which are managed in accordance with applicable legal provisions. The Vordingborg Municipality acts as the main management authority for the property and is responsible for implementing legislation and overseeing development in the area. Increasingly strengthened coordination among all authorities, the Scientific Advisory Board, stakeholders, landowners, and rightsholders will help ensure sustainable strategies and standards for development and management of the property.

Conservation efforts within the property include the clearing of certain parts of the forest to support biodiversity and the visibility of geological features, protecting other parts of the forest by preventing forestry activities, protecting viewpoints and calcareous grasslands from overgrowth, and managing the distribution of visitors to avoid particularly vulnerable areas. Specific needs related to the conservation and management of geological features are a commitment, such as developing inventories and baseline data, monitoring activities, and capacity-building of management authorities in geoheritage. Monitoring the state of conservation of the property will be further developed, with funding from the Globe Institute at the University of Copenhagen, the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland and Geocenter Møns Klint. Erosion dynamics along the coastline, while a feature contributing to the Outstanding Universal Value itself, will be monitored and managed through a dedicated programme operated by the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland using baseline studies and incorporating climate change analysis.