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Campden Tunnel Gravel Pit facts for kids

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Campden Tunnel Gravel Pit
Site of Special Scientific Interest
Area of Search Gloucestershire
Coordinates 52°03′57″N 1°45′57″W / 52.065791°N 1.765825°W / 52.065791; -1.765825
Interest Geological
Area 0.2 hectare
Notification 1988

Campden Tunnel Gravel Pit is a special place in Gloucestershire, England. It's known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) because of its amazing geology. This means it's a protected area where scientists can study Earth's history. It was officially recognized as an SSSI in 1988. The site is also listed in the local plan for the Cotswold District.

What is Campden Tunnel Gravel Pit?

Campden Tunnel Gravel Pit is a small area, about 0.2 hectares, which is roughly the size of half a football field. It's a very important spot for understanding how our planet changed over millions of years.

A Look at the Rocks and Soil

At Campden Tunnel Gravel Pit, you can see different layers of gravel, sand, and silt. These layers were left behind during the Pleistocene period, also known as the Ice Age. This was a time when huge sheets of ice, called glaciers, covered large parts of the Earth.

The layers you see here are called "glacial sediments." They fill a deep channel that was carved out by ancient glaciers. Scientists believe that melting ice from the valley of the River Avon (which is to the north) flowed into the drainage system of the River Evenlode (to the southeast). This flow of meltwater helped shape the landscape we see today.

This site helps us understand how glaciers moved and left deposits across the Midlands region of England. It also connects to other important glacial sites, like those near Moreton-in-Marsh and Stretton-on-Fosse. By studying these places, scientists can piece together the story of Earth's icy past.

Why is This Place Important?

Campden Tunnel Gravel Pit is a very valuable site for scientific research. Because it holds so many clues about the Ice Age, it is carefully protected. This means it is mainly used by scientists and researchers who are studying geology and Earth's history. They learn a lot from the different layers of rock and soil found here.

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