Crackpot, North Yorkshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crackpot |
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 Looking down into Swaledale from above Crackpot |
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 Crackpot
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| OS grid reference | SD973966 |
| Unitary authority |
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| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | RICHMOND |
| Postcode district | DL11 |
| Police | North Yorkshire |
| Fire | North Yorkshire |
| Ambulance | Yorkshire |
| EU Parliament | Yorkshire and the Humber |
Crackpot is a small village in Swaledale, which is a beautiful valley in North Yorkshire, England. The name "Crackpot" might sound a bit funny, but it has an interesting history! It comes from two old words. "Kraka" is an Old English word meaning crow. "Pot" is a Viking word that usually means a deep hole or pit, often in a riverbed. In this case, it refers to a crack or rift in the local limestone rock. So, the name likely describes a place where crows gather near a rocky crack.
Exploring Crackpot Cave
Just south of Crackpot village, you can find Crackpot Cave in an area called Scurvey Scar. This cave is famous for a special rock formation called a column. A column forms when a stalactite (an icicle-shaped rock hanging from the cave ceiling) grows downwards and meets a stalagmite (a similar rock growing upwards from the cave floor). Over many, many years, these two formations join together to create a single pillar.
To get into Crackpot Cave, you have to go through a part of the cave known as Knee-wrecker Passage. It's a tight squeeze, so it's definitely an adventure for experienced cave explorers!
