Interspersed with small towns settled in valleys which have now become seaside resorts, the Côte d'Albâtre (Alabaster Coast) stretches from Le Havre to Le Tréport. Near Sotteville-sur-Mer, a rocky wall more than 164 ft (50 m) high, almost straight, borders the pebble and sand beach. A staircase of 231 steps provides access to the foreshore. The site is threatened by an acceleration of landslides due to temperature variations leading to its crumbling. The rainwaters pack the chalk that dries up under the heat and suddenly cracks. The undermining motion of the waves from below constitutes a second factor.