Great Globe facts for kids
The Great Globe in Swanage, England, is one of the biggest stone spheres in the world. You can find it at Durlston Castle inside Durlston Country Park. This park is a huge area of land, about 113 hectares (279 acres), that is protected for nature and visitors. The Globe is made from a special kind of stone called Portland stone. It weighs around 40 tonnes, which is like 40 small cars! It is also 3 meters (10 feet) wide.
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The Great Globe: A Giant Stone World
What is the Great Globe?
The Great Globe is a massive stone model of the Earth. It shows the continents, oceans, and important places around the world. It was built a long time ago, in 1887. The Globe is a popular sight for visitors to Swanage.
Where is the Great Globe Located?
The Great Globe stands south of Durlston Castle. It is part of the Durlston Country Park estate. This area is high up on a hill, about 41 meters (136 feet) above sea level. This gives you a great view of the sea and the surrounding area.
How Was the Globe Built?
The Great Globe was first made in Greenwich, a part of London, in 1887. It was built in a stone-yard owned by a company called Mowlem. The founder of this company, John Mowlem, used to live in Swanage. After it was finished, the huge globe was brought to Swanage by sea.
The Globe is made from 15 large pieces of Portland stone. These pieces are carefully joined together with strong granite pins. It was put in place by W.M. Hardy in 1887.
What Can You See on the Globe?
The surface of the Great Globe has many details carved into it. You can see the shapes of all the continents and oceans. It also shows certain important places on Earth.
Around the Globe, there are stone plaques. These plaques have famous sayings from English and Roman poets, and even from the Bible. They also share interesting facts about nature. These carvings were finished a few years later, in 1891. There are also eight large stone blocks placed around the Globe. These blocks show the main compass directions, like North, South, East, and West. Today, an iron fence protects the Globe.
