Editing Sheerness (section)

== Geography ==
[[File:Sheerness beach.jpg|right|thumb|Sheerness beach]]
Sheerness is in the north-west corner of the Isle of Sheppey in North Kent. To the north, sandy beaches run along the coast of the [[Thames Estuary]]. To the west, the outlet of the River Medway flows into the Estuary. An area of [[wetland]]s known as The Lappel lies between the river and the south-western part of town. Marshland lies to the south and the east. The main rock type of the Isle of Sheppey is [[London Clay]], which covers most of North Kent.<ref>{{cite book  | last=Woodward|first=Horrace B|title = Stanford's Geological Atlas   | year = 1904 }}</ref> Along with most of the Kent coast, the uninhabited coastal areas of the island have been designated [[Sites of Special Scientific Interest]], due to their wildlife and geological features.<ref>{{cite web  | title = Nature On The Map  | publisher = Natural England  | url = http://www.natureonthemap.org.uk/map.aspx?m=nreserves  | access-date = 30 April 2007  | archive-date = 30 September 2007  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930195526/http://www.natureonthemap.org.uk/map.aspx?m=nreserves  | url-status = live  }}</ref>

The nearest towns to Sheerness are [[Minster-in-Sheppey|Minster]], {{convert|1|mi|km|1|abbr=off}} to the east, and [[Queenborough]], two miles (3.2&nbsp;km) to the south. The villages of [[Minster-on-Sea]] and [[Halfway Houses, Kent|Halfway Houses]] are {{convert|1|mi|km|1}} to the south-east, and the village of [[Isle of Grain|Grain]] is {{convert|2|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} to the west, across the River Medway.

The main commercial and leisure areas of the town dominate the north coast, where there is easy access to the pleasure beach. The industrial areas are in the west, beside the wetlands and the River Medway. The Bluetown industrial area and the Port of Sheerness are in the north-western part of the town. The residential districts of Mile Town and Marine Town are in the central and the eastern areas respectively.

The mean annual temperature in Sheerness is {{convert|10|°C|°F|0}}. The average annual maximum temperature is {{convert|14|°C|°F|0}}, and the average annual minimum temperature is {{convert|6|°C|°F|0}}. The warmest time of the year is July and August, when maximum temperatures average {{convert|21|°C|°F|0}}. The coolest time of the year is January and February, when minimum temperatures average {{convert|2|°C|°F|0}}.<ref name="mapped">{{cite web|title = 1971-2000 mapped averages|publisher = Met Office|url = http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/mapped.html|access-date = 29 April 2007|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070422202137/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/mapped.html |archive-date = 22 April 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The average annual rainfall in Sheerness is {{convert|28|in|mm|0}}. The average annual duration of sunshine is 1,700&nbsp;hours; the months May to August have the most hours of sunshine. On average, there are fewer than six days of lying snow per year, and 16&nbsp;days with thunder per year.<ref name="mapped"/>