Dale (landform) facts for kids
A dale is simply another word for an open valley. It's a type of landform, which means it's a natural feature of the Earth's surface. You'll hear the word "dale" used most often in northern England and the Southern Uplands of Scotland. The mountains or hills that surround a dale are often called "fells."
Where the Word "Dale" Comes From
The word dale has a long history! It comes from the Old English word dæl. This is also where the word "dell" comes from.
It's also related to the Old Norse word dalr. This connection might be why the word "dale" is still common in northern England today. Many other languages have similar words for valley, showing they might all come from a very old, shared language family.
Examples of Dales
Many places in the UK are named after dales. Often, the name of the river flowing through the valley is added before "dale." Here are some well-known examples:
- Airedale (in Yorkshire, England)
- Annandale (in the Scottish Lowlands)
- Coquetdale (in Northumberland, England)
- Ennerdale (in Cumbria, England)
- Eskdale (in Cumbria, England)
- Eskdale (in the Scottish Lowlands)
- Eskdale (in Yorkshire, England)
- Lauderdale (in the Scottish Lowlands)
- Lonsdale or Lunesdale (between Lancashire and Westmorland, England)
- Rochdale (in Greater Manchester, England)
- Teesdale (in Durham, England)
- Tweeddale (in the Scottish Lowlands)
- Tynedale (in Northumberland, England)
- Weardale (in County Durham and Yorkshire, England)
- Wensleydale or Yoredale (in Yorkshire, England)
You might also notice similar names in other countries, like Wuppertal in Germany, which also means "Wupper Valley."
