Peapix

  • Bing Gallery
  • Extension
Peapix
Bing Gallery
Extension
  • India
    All
    Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil

Bing Gallery

Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil
  1. Bing Gallery
  2. India
  3. 2021
  4. January 07
  5. White Cliffs of Dover, England
arrow_back_ios arrow_forward_ios White Cliffs of Dover, England

January 07, 2021

White Cliffs of Dover, England

© LisaValder/Getty Image

Of balloons and lost pantaloons

We all fly by the seat of our pants now and then, but how about flying with no pants at all? That was the plight of Jean-Pierre Blanchard and John Jeffries, who on January 7, 1785, made history over these chalk cliffs with the first aerial crossing of the English Channel. When their hydrogen-filled balloon dropped altitude due to overloading, the two tossed all the cargo they could into the drink below, britches included. Reaching France in their underpants, the undoubtedly chilly pilots still received a warm welcome.

Known worldwide as an emblem of England, the White Cliffs of Dover rise 350 feet over the strait where Blanchard and Jeffries made their crossing. The white chalk and gray-black streaks of flint match geologically with shorter cliffs on the French side—evidence of a land bridge that existed long before we primates got the notion to fly. Of course, even soaring over the waves is a bit outmoded now that you can zip under them in the Channel Tunnel, which has its entrance just down the coast.

outdoor sky water lighthouse cloud landscape ocean cliff stone shore day

Related Images

Container ship near a commercial port in ThailandContainer ship near a commercial port in Thailand
The Via Krupp footpath on Capri island, ItalyThe Via Krupp footpath on Capri island, Italy
Sea otter in Bartlett Cove, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, AlaskaSea otter in Bartlett Cove, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, Alaska
The Fraser River near Mount Robson, British Columbia, CanadaThe Fraser River near Mount Robson, British Columbia, Canada
Roman-inspired aqueduct, Arkadia Park, PolandRoman-inspired aqueduct, Arkadia Park, Poland
North Sea at sunset, Norddorf, Amrum Island, GermanyNorth Sea at sunset, Norddorf, Amrum Island, Germany
Walrus pair at sea in Svalbard, NorwayWalrus pair at sea in Svalbard, Norway
Old Venetian harbour, Rethymno, Crete Island, GreeceOld Venetian harbour, Rethymno, Crete Island, Greece

Today on Bing

Wool and mohair yarn

Wool and mohair yarn

Jan 07, 2023
Mehrangarh Fort in Rajasthan, India

Mehrangarh Fort in Rajasthan, India

Jan 07, 2022
Moons of Jupiter—Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto

Moons of Jupiter—Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto

Jan 07, 2020
Houseboats parked on the banks of Jhelum River, Kashmir

Houseboats parked on the banks of Jhelum River, Kashmir

Jan 07, 2019

Related Tags

water outdoor landscape sky lake animal ship harbor nature rock beach mountain swimming tree surrounded forest wooded grass marine mammal watercraft
Share photo
Share
Pin
Tweet
Line
Download 4K Ultra HD
Download 1920x1080
  • © 2023 Peapix.com
  • API
  • App
  • Privacy
The images are provided for wallpaper use only.