Leck Beck facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leck Beck |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Part | England |
| County | Lancashire, Cumbria |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Crag Hill |
| River mouth | Confluence with River Lune |
Leck Beck is a small river, or "beck," located in Lancashire, England. It starts high up on Crag Hill in Cumbria, flowing between two hills called Leck Fell and Casterton Fell.
The Leck Beck's Journey
This beck is special because much of its water disappears underground! Near its beginning, the water flows into a huge network of caves. This is known as the Ease Gill Cave System.
Underground Wonders
The Ease Gill Cave System is part of an even bigger one. It is called The Three Counties System. This is the longest cave system in Britain. It is also the 26th longest in the entire world!
The water from Leck Beck enters these caves through about 14 large openings. These openings are called sinkholes. After flowing underground for several kilometers, the water comes back to the surface. It reappears at a major spring known as Leck Beck Head.
Exploring the Depths
People have explored the Leck Beck Head spring for many years. In the 1980s, divers went deep into its underwater passages. They even had to dig underwater to make their way through.
Another part of this system is Witches Cave (Yorkshire). Divers have explored this cave too. They went through a long underwater tunnel, called a sump, that was 300 meters long. This led them into another section called Witches II. In 2010, explorers even dug a dry entrance to Witches II from the surface.
Where Leck Beck Flows
After its underground adventure, Leck Beck continues its journey above ground. It flows through several small places. These include Leck, Cowan Bridge, and Overtown. Finally, Leck Beck joins a larger river. It meets the River Lune near a place called Nether Burrow.
