Green Bridge of Wales facts for kids
The Green Bridge of Wales is an amazing natural arch found in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is made from a type of rock called Carboniferous Limestone. You can see it in the beautiful Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. This natural wonder is located near the car park at Stack Rocks. It is also right beside the famous Pembrokeshire Coast Path.
How the Green Bridge Formed
The area around the Green Bridge of Wales has very thick layers of Carboniferous Limestone. This rock sometimes contains another hard material called chert. Over many, many years, the sea and weather have slowly worn away the rock. This process is called erosion.
Strong winds and waves constantly hit the coast. Tiny pebbles and sand particles rub against the rocks. Even chemicals in the water can slowly dissolve the limestone. The weakest parts of the cliff, like small cracks or folds, are worn away first.
This slow erosion created many unique landforms over thousands of years. For the Green Bridge of Wales, erosion happened on both sides of a small piece of land sticking out into the sea. Caves formed and grew deeper and deeper. Eventually, these caves met in the middle, creating the arch you see today.
The bridge stands about 24 m (80 ft) high. Its arch stretches more than 20 m (66 ft) wide. The outer edge of the bridge rests on a stronger rock base. The top of the bridge is covered in green plants. In October 2017, a big storm called Storm Ophelia caused some damage to the bridge.
Visiting This Natural Wonder
The Green Bridge of Wales is a very popular place to visit. It is like the nearby Elegug Stacks and Huntsman's Leap. Many people enjoy walking along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path to see it. You can often spot pictures of the Green Bridge in travel guides and school geography books.
Experts at the Natural Arch and Bridge Society think it is "probably the most spectacular arch in the United Kingdom." It stands about 80 feet tall.
The bridge is located at the edge of the Ministry of Defence's Castlemartin military training area. However, visitors can usually access the area to see this amazing natural arch.
