Cheddar Gorge

51.284444444444 - 2.7611111111111Koordinaten: 51 ° 17 ' 4 " N, 2 ° 45' 40 " W

The Cheddar Gorge is located near the village of Cheddar in the Mendip Hills in Somerset in England. It is the largest gorge in the United Kingdom, which is home to numerous caves. In Gough 's Cave, the oldest complete human skeleton Britain, the 9000 years old in 1903 found " Cheddar Man". Remains from the Palaeolithic 13000-12000 years ago are also from here.

The gorge was formed during the Ice Age, when melt water formed carts that extended into a ravine. After the Ice Age limestone thawed and became transparent, so that the surface water seeped and a dry valley left behind. The Mendip Hills and Somerset Levels are near hiking country.

Canyon

The nearly five km long gorge and caves, which have interesting rock formations and other features, are a tourist attraction. Among the natural wonders of Britain Cheddar Gorge is exceeded according to a survey from the year 2005 only by the Dan -yr- Ogof cave in Wales. The walls of the 113 -meter deep gorge of limestone, the overburden consists of red sandstone. The river Yeo passes through only the lower part of the canyon. There is a path of 274 steps leading out of the canyon and is named after the biblical description of Jacob's ladder, Jacob's ladder. From a tower on the height, there is a 360 degree view over the gorge and the village.

In the caves of Cheddar Gorge and Wookey those in Pass ten kilometers away, there is an underworld. The caves are inhabited by colonies of large and small horseshoe bat, two rare species of bats. In 1890 discovered about 400 m long Gough's Cave and the smaller 1837 discovered more colorful Cox Cave are show caves, which were named after their discoverers. Studies of bones that were found in Gough's Cave, indicate cannibalism of 14,700 years ago had emigrated from Spain and France residents.