Gaping Gill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gaping Gill |
|
|---|---|
Entrance shaft viewed from the Main Chamber
|
|
| Location | Ingleborough, North Yorkshire, England |
| OS grid | SD 75117270 |
| Depth | 192 metres (630 ft) |
| Length | 21 kilometres (13 mi) (including Ingleborough Cave) |
| Geology | Carboniferous limestone |
| Entrances | 21 |
| Access | Ingleborough Estate Office |
| BRAC grade | 4 |
Gaping Gill (also known as Gaping Ghyll) is an amazing natural cave in North Yorkshire, England. It's a famous landmark on the side of Ingleborough mountain. Imagine a giant hole, about 98 meters (322 feet) deep, where a stream called Fell Beck plunges right into the ground!
This stream falls into one of Britain's biggest underground chambers. The water then disappears into the rocky floor. Eventually, it reappears near Ingleborough Cave. For a long time, Gaping Gill was the deepest known shaft in Britain. That was until the Titan cave was found in 1999. Gaping Gill still holds records for the tallest unbroken waterfall in England. It also has the largest underground chamber that is open to the surface.
Contents
Exploring Gaping Gill's Features
Gaping Gill is like a giant puzzle with many ways to get in. Because of its many entrances, explorers can find different routes through the cave system. Some of these other entrances include Jib Tunnel, Disappointment Pot, Stream Passage Pot, Bar Pot, Hensler's Pot, Corky's Pot, Rat Hole, and Flood Entrance Pot.
Public Access and Winch Meets
Twice a year, you can actually visit the bottom of Gaping Gill! The Bradford Pothole Club and the Craven Pothole Club set up a special winch. This winch is like a lift that takes people down the huge shaft. You can pay a small fee to experience this incredible ride. This usually happens around the May and August Bank Holidays. It's a unique chance for the public to see this amazing underground world.
Mapping the Giant Chamber
Scientists have made a detailed 3D model of the main chamber. They used a special laser rangefinder to measure everything. This model showed that the chamber is huge! Its size is similar to that of York Minster, a very large cathedral.
History of Gaping Gill Exploration
People have been trying to explore Gaping Gill for a long time. It's a place that really sparks curiosity!
First Descents into the Depths
The first recorded attempt to go down was in 1842. A man named John Birkbeck reached a ledge about 55 meters (180 feet) down. This ledge is now named after him. The very first person to successfully reach the bottom was Édouard-Alfred Martel. He made the full descent in 1895.
Hensler's Crawl and Master Cave Discovery
On May 16, 1937, an explorer named Eric Hensler found something new. He explored a low passage that led to an unknown area. This passage was later named Hensler's Crawl. It also led to a larger area called Hensler's Master Cave.
Recent Discoveries and Challenges
In 1983, a group of cave divers made an important discovery. They found an underwater connection between Gaping Gill and Ingleborough Cave. This showed how the water flows between the two systems.
It's even possible to rock-climb up the main shaft! This is an extremely difficult climb, known as E3, 5c. It needs very dry conditions to be safe. The first climbers used ropes and equipment to help them in 1972. The first time someone climbed it without any help from ropes was in 1988.
See also
