Portal:South East England/Selected article/3

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Dungeness is the headland of a shingle beach on the Romney Marsh in Kent, England. It is also given to a "village" situated along the beach: and to an important ecological site on the same location.

The name Dungeness derives from Old Norse nes: "headland", with the first part probably connected with the nearby Denge Marsh. Popular etymology ascribes a French origin to the toponym, giving an interpretation as "dangerous nose".

Dungeness is one of the largest expanses of shingle in the world. It is of international conservation importance for its geomorphology, plant and invertebrate communities and birdlife. This is recognised and protected in large part through its conservation designations - National Nature Reserve (NNR), Special Protection Area (SPA) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

There is a remarkable and unique variety of wildlife living at Dungeness. Over 600 different types of plant (a third of all those found in Britain) are found here. It is one of the best places in Britain to find insects such as moths, bees, beetles and spiders; many of these are very rare, some found nowhere else in Britain.

There have been five lighthouses at Dungeness. At first only a beacon was used to give warning to sailors, but this gave way to a proper lighthouse during the reign of James I in 1615.

There are two nuclear power stations at Dungeness, the first built in 1965 and the second in 1983. They are located within a wildlife sanctuary that has been deemed a Site of Special Scientific Interest.