Cox's Cave facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cox's Cave |
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Stalagmites and Stalactites in Cox's cave shown in a reflecting pool
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| Location | Cheddar |
| OS grid | ST46465390 |
| Length | 100 m (330 ft) |
| Height variation | 18 m (59 ft) |
| Elevation | 23 m (75 ft) |
| Geology | Carboniferous limestone |
| Show cave opened | 1838 |
| Lighting | Electric |
| Registry | Mendip Cave Registry |
| Website | http://www.cheddargorge.co.uk/explore/coxs-cave |
Cox's Cave is a famous cave located in Cheddar Gorge, England. This amazing natural wonder is found in the Mendip Hills of Somerset. It is open to everyone as a special kind of attraction called a show cave.
A show cave is a natural cave that has been made safe and easy for people to visit. It usually has paths, lighting, and sometimes guides to help you explore its hidden beauty. Cox's Cave is one of the most popular show caves in the area.
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Discovering Cox's Cave
This interesting cave is named after a man called George Cox. He owned a mill and discovered the cave in 1837. He found it while he was digging for limestone to use in a new building.
George Cox quickly realized how special his discovery was. Just one year later, in 1838, he opened the cave to the public. He ran it as his own business for many years. Later, in the early 1900s, a landowner named Thomas Thynne, 5th Marquess of Bath took over the cave.
Connecting the Caves
In 1987, something new happened at Cox's Cave. A tunnel was built to connect it to another nearby cave. This other cave is called Pavey's Cave, and it was made by people, not nature. This connection made it even easier for visitors to explore the underground world.
Exploring the Cave's Beauty
Cox's Cave is made up of seven smaller cave rooms, which are called grottoes. These grottoes are connected by low, natural archways. You might need to duck a little to pass through them!
The Home of the Rainbow
One of the most amazing parts of Cox's Cave is known as the "Home of the Rainbow." This section is incredibly colorful. The colors come from tiny bits of minerals that have washed into the cave from the ground above.
These minerals have given the cave's rock formations, like stalagmites, a wide range of colors. You can see shades from almost black to bright green, orange, and even pure white. It's like a natural art gallery underground!
A Famous Visitor's Opinion
Cox's Cave has impressed many people over the years. A very famous French cave explorer, named Édouard-Alfred Martel, visited it. He was a speleologist, which is a scientist who studies caves.
After exploring many caves around the world, Martel said something very special about Cox's Cave. He declared that "out of 600 caves, Cox's was admired the most." This shows just how unique and beautiful this cave truly is.
