GB Cave facts for kids
Quick facts for kids GB Cave |
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| Location | Charterhouse, Somerset, UK |
| OS grid | ST 47595623 |
| Depth | 134 metres (440 ft) |
| Length | 1,950 metres (6,400 ft) |
| Elevation | 253 metres (830 ft) |
| Discovery | 1939 |
| Geology | Limestone |
| Access | locked |
| Cave survey |
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| Registry | Mendip Cave Registry |
Imagine exploring a huge underground world! GB Cave is a famous cave located in the beautiful Mendip Hills of Somerset, England. It's nestled between the villages of Charterhouse and Shipham, carved out of strong Limestone rock.
This amazing cave was first explored on November 19, 1939. It took ten months of hard digging by members of the University of Bristol Spelæological Society (a group of cave explorers!). The cave was named "GB" to honor F. J. Goddard and C. C. Barker, who did most of the work to find its entrance. GB Cave is part of the Cheddar Complex area and is very close to Charterhouse Cave, which is the deepest cave in this region.
In 1966, explorers managed to dig through another section called "Ladder Dig." This new path led them to a beautiful area known as Bat Passage, which is full of amazing cave formations. The entrance to GB Cave is kept locked, and a group called the Charterhouse Caving Company controls who can go inside to protect this special place.
Exploring GB Cave's Chambers
GB Cave is known for its incredible size and unique features. One of the most impressive parts is called the Gorge. This is a river passage that can be up to 6 metres (20 ft) (about 20 feet) wide and 12 metres (39 ft) (about 40 feet) high, stretching for 90 metres (295 ft) (nearly 300 feet) long!
The Gorge then opens up into an even bigger space called the Main Chamber. This chamber is truly massive, measuring 20 metres (66 ft) (about 65 feet) wide, 23 metres (75 ft) (about 75 feet) high, and 122 metres (400 ft) (about 400 feet) long. For a long time, these two areas were thought to be the largest underground spaces in the Mendip Hills. However, in 2012, an even bigger area called "The Frozen Deep" was discovered in Reservoir Hole.
Deeper inside GB Cave, you'll find another large area known as the Great Chamber. Many other chambers within the cave are also beautifully decorated with natural cave formations. Scientists have even studied tiny amounts of elements like magnesium, strontium, and barium found in the cave formations (called speleothems) within the Great Chamber. These studies help them understand the cave's history over thousands of years.
