Glenthorne facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
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| Area of Search | Somerset & Devon |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 51°14′02″N 3°43′13″W / 51.23383°N 3.72018°W |
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 13.3 hectares (0.133 km2; 0.051 sq mi) |
| Notification | 1989 |
Glenthorne is a special protected area in the Exmoor National Park. It's located near the village of Oare, right on the border between Somerset and Devon in England. This area is known as a geological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's a place recognized for its important rocks and landforms. Glenthorne was officially protected in 1989 and covers about 13.3 hectares, which is roughly the size of 20 football fields.
Why Glenthorne is Special
Glenthorne is very important because of its unique rocks. It's part of a special program called the Geological Conservation Review. This program identifies and protects the best places in Britain to study geology.
Ancient Rocks and Deserts
The rocks at Glenthorne are part of something called the Trentishoe Formation. These rocks belong to the Hangman Sandstone Group. This group of rocks formed during the Middle Devonian period. This was a very long time ago, about 390 million years ago!
During that time, the area that is now North Devon and Somerset was mostly a desert. However, the rocks at Glenthorne are special. They show signs of being formed by freshwater, which is unusual for a desert environment. This tells scientists interesting stories about how the Earth's landscape changed over millions of years.
Images for kids
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A view of the cliffs at Glenthorne Beach.
