Morecambe Bay

It is the largest expanse of intertidal mudflats and sand in the United Kingdom, covering a total area of 120 sq mi (310 km2).

Some of the surrounding land is also a protected area, forming the Morecambe Bay Pavements, home to rare butterflies such as the high brown fritillary.

Local guidance should be sought if walking to Chapel or Piel islands as fast tides and quicksand can be extremely dangerous.

[3] The extensive sandflats are the remains of a vast sandur or outwash plain established by meltwaters as the last ice age waned.

The Greek geographer and astronomer Claudius Ptolemy (died c170 AD) referred in his writings to Morikambe eischusis as a location on Britain's west coast, lying between the Ribble and the Solway.

Criminal prosecution of the gangmaster and his associates for manslaughter and aiding immigration offences resulted in terms of imprisonment.

[11] Morecambe Bay is also home to several of the UK's offshore wind farms: West of Duddon Sands, Burbo Bank, Walney, Barrow, and Ormonde.

Around 320,000 people live along the coastline of Morecambe Bay,[citation needed] with the largest town being Barrow-in-Furness to the west.

Morecambe was once a popular seaside holiday destination, whilst Barrow still relies on the seas for a large percentage of its economy in ship and submarine construction.

The bay has Britain's second-largest natural gas field,[13] in the Triassic Sherwood Sandstone with a seal of Mercia Mudstone[14] and a Carboniferous source.

There is a support base at Heysham Port and personnel are typically moved by helicopter from Blackpool International Airport.