Cwm Twrch facts for kids

Cwm Twrch is a special place in Carmarthenshire, Wales. It's known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's protected because it has important natural features, like rare plants, animals, or interesting geology. Cwm Twrch was officially recognized as an SSSI in 1988.

A view looking up Cwm Twrch, showing the landscape.

Why is Cwm Twrch Special?

Cwm Twrch SSSI is found near the Afon Twrch river. It's about 0.9 miles (1.4 kilometers) north-east of a village called Ystradowen. The whole protected area covers about 2.4 hectares, which is roughly the size of two and a half football fields.

Uncovering Ancient Rocks: The Geology of Cwm Twrch

This site is super important for its geology, which is the study of Earth's rocks and how they formed. The river here, the Afon Twrch, has slowly worn away the land over many years. This erosion has created a fantastic view of ancient rock layers.

What is the Amman Marine Band?

One of the most exciting things about Cwm Twrch is a specific rock layer called the Amman Marine Band. This is a type of sedimentary rock. Sedimentary rocks are formed from layers of mud, sand, or tiny bits of old plants and animals that get pressed together over millions of years.

The Amman Marine Band is special because it shows us a lot about life from a very long time ago. It contains many different kinds of ancient animals (diverse fauna) that lived in the sea.

Exploring the Carboniferous Period

This rock layer also marks an important point in Earth's history. It shows the boundary between two parts of the Carboniferous period. The Carboniferous period was a time in Earth's history, about 359 to 299 million years ago, when many coal deposits were formed. The Amman Marine Band helps scientists understand the timeline of these ancient rocks and the changes that happened on Earth during that time.