Gordale Scar facts for kids
Gordale Scar is an amazing natural wonder in North Yorkshire, England. It's a huge crack in the limestone rock, about 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) northeast of a village called Malham. Imagine towering cliffs over 100 meters (330 feet) high!
Inside Gordale Scar, you'll find two beautiful waterfalls. The whole gorge might have been created by powerful water from melting glaciers long ago, or perhaps by a giant cave collapsing. A stream called Gordale Beck flows through the scar. After leaving the gorge, this beck tumbles over another lovely waterfall called Janet's Foss. It then joins Malham Beck about 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) downstream, and together they form the River Aire.
You can walk up into the gorge, but it's a bit of an adventure! At the lower waterfall, you'll need to climb up about 3 meters (10 feet) of a special rock called tufa. It's a fun challenge for visitors!
Famous Visitors and Appearances
Gordale Scar has impressed many people over the years, including famous artists and writers!
Poets and Painters
The famous poet William Wordsworth was so amazed by Gordale Scar that he wrote a poem about it. In his sonnet Gordale, he described it as a "chasm, terrific as the lair where the young lions couch." He thought it was a powerful and wild place, like where young lions might live!
Two well-known painters also captured the beauty of Gordale Scar. James Ward created a large and imaginative painting of the gorge. You can see his artwork, which really shows the dramatic feel of the place, at Tate Britain in London.
Another famous artist, J. M. W. Turner, also painted Gordale Scar in 1816. His painting is also displayed at Tate Britain, showing how inspiring this natural spot has been for artists.
On the Big Screen
Gordale Scar isn't just famous in art; it's been in movies too! The stunning waterfall was used as a filming location for the 1982 fantasy film The Dark Crystal. Its dramatic cliffs and waterfalls made a perfect backdrop for the magical world in the movie.
Images for kids
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The entrance to the ravine
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The first hurdle..
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The upper waterfall
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Painting by James Ward
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The valley just downstream from Gordale Scar.
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