Dan yr Ogof facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dan Yr Ogof |
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A cave feature at Dan yr Ogof
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| Location | Powys, Wales |
| OS grid | SN 83825 16021 |
| Length | 15,500 metres (50,900 ft) |
| Discovery | 1912 |
| Hazards | Some parts avoided when on tour of caves |
| Access | Safe |
| Translation | "Beneath the cave". The Morgan Brothers named the cave after their farm. (Welsh) |
| Registry | Cambrian Cave Registry |
Dan yr Ogof is a famous cave system in south Wales. It's part of the National Showcaves Centre for Wales. This amazing cave is about 17 kilometers (10.5 miles) long! It's located in the Brecon Beacons National Park.
Dan yr Ogof is a big tourist attraction. It's known as one of the largest show caves in the UK. You can explore the first part of the cave system. The deeper parts are protected as a special nature reserve. Only experienced cavers are allowed to go there.
Scientists have found many old bones in the cave. These include bones from animals and even some humans. In 2005, people voted Dan yr Ogof as Britain's greatest natural wonder. This was in a poll by Radio Times magazine.
Discovering the Dan yr Ogof Caves
The Dan yr Ogof cave system was first explored in 1912. Three local brothers, Edwin, Tommy, and Jeff Morgan, discovered it. They used simple tools like candles to light their way. They even brought a revolver because they didn't know what they might find!
Edwin Morgan was the first to go inside. He was the smallest of the brothers. Their first trip stopped at a large underground lake. Later, they used a small boat called a coracle to cross it. They crossed three more lakes this way. But then, a very tight squeeze stopped them.
Pushing Further into the Caves
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This tight passage is called the Long Crawl. In 1963, a caver named Eileen Davies was the first to get past it. She was part of the South Wales Caving Club. She found the initials 'PO' deeper inside the cave. These belonged to Peter Ogden. He couldn't go further because he lacked equipment.
Cavers have continued to explore the system over the years. They have extended the cave to its current 17-kilometer length. Some parts were reached by cave diving. A famous explorer, Martyn Farr, wrote a book about the caves. He believes the system could be much larger, possibly 150 kilometers long!
Dan yr Ogof on Screen
The amazing Dan yr Ogof cave has even been a filming location. It was used for an episode of the TV show Doctor Who. The episode was called The Pirate Planet.
