Coire an t-Sneachda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coire an t-Sneachda |
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Coire an t-Sneachda
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| Highest point | |
| Naming | |
| English translation | Corrie of the Snow |
| Language of name | Scottish Gaelic |
| Pronunciation | Scottish Gaelic: [ˈkʰɔɾʲ ən̪ˠ ˈt̪ɾɛ̃xkə] |
| Geography | |
| Location | Inverness-shire,  Scotland |
| Parent range | Grampian Mountains |
Coire an t-Sneachda is a special place in the Scottish Highlands. It's a type of valley shaped like a half-bowl, called a cirque or corrie. This corrie is found in the Cairngorms mountain range.
The name Coire an t-Sneachda comes from Scottish Gaelic. It means "Corrie of the Snow" in English. This name fits well because snow often stays here for a long time!
Above Coire an t-Sneachda, you'll find two mountain tops. These are Cairn Lochan, which is 1215 meters high, and Stob Coire an t-Sneachda, at 1176 meters.
Where is Coire an t-Sneachda?
Coire an t-Sneachda is located in Inverness-shire, in the northern part of Scotland. The closest big town is Aviemore.
Getting there is quite easy for a mountain area. You can reach it from the Cairn Gorm ski centre. This ski centre is about 4 kilometers (or 2.5 miles) away. It takes about 45 to 60 minutes to walk there if the weather is good.
How the Land Was Made and What Lives There
The rocks around Coire an t-Sneachda are made of granite. This granite formed a very long time ago during a period called the Caledonian orogeny. This hard rock forms the high plateau where the corrie is found.
This corrie was carved out by a huge glacier. This glacier was here about 10,000 to 11,000 years ago. This time was known as the Younger Dryas, or the Loch Lomond stadial. It was the last "mini ice age" in Scotland. During this cold period, glaciers and tundra (a treeless, frozen landscape) covered the Scottish Highlands.
Coire an t-Sneachda is also home to different kinds of birds. In spring and summer, you might see ring ouzel and snow bunting. The ptarmigan, also known as the rock ptarmigan, lives here all year round.
Climbing Adventures
This corrie is a very popular spot for people who love to climb. One reason is how easy it is to get to from the Cairn Gorm ski centre. Another reason is that it usually has good snow and ice conditions in winter.
Climbers come here to test their skills on the ice and rock faces. It's an exciting place for winter sports. However, climbing in the mountains always requires good equipment and careful planning. It's important to be prepared for changing weather and conditions.
