Leet Hill, Kirby Cane facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
 |
|
| Area of Search | Norfolk |
|---|---|
| Interest | Geological |
| Area | 6.5 hectares (16 acres) |
| Notification | 1994 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Leet Hill, Kirby Cane is a special place in Norfolk, England. It covers about 6.5 hectares, which is roughly the size of nine football fields! This site is protected because of its amazing geology. It's known as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Geological Conservation Review (GCR) site. This means it's super important for understanding Earth's history.
What Makes Leet Hill Special?
Leet Hill, Kirby Cane, is actually a quarry. A quarry is a place where people dig out rocks, sand, or gravel from the ground. But this isn't just any quarry! It holds clues about what the Earth was like a very, very long time ago.
Layers of Time
Inside the quarry, you can see different layers of earth and rock. These layers are like pages in a history book. They tell us about events that happened during a time called the Middle Pleistocene period. This was part of the Ice Age, many thousands of years ago!
The lowest layers are made of gravel. These gravels were left behind by two rivers that joined together. Above these, there are more gravels. These were dropped by huge sheets of ice, called glaciers, as they moved across the land. On top of everything, you'll find layers of chalky sand. These sands were also likely left by glaciers.
By studying these different layers, scientists can learn about ancient rivers, the movement of glaciers, and how the landscape of Norfolk has changed over vast periods of time.
Can You Visit?
Leet Hill, Kirby Cane, is still a working quarry. This means people are actively digging there. Because of this, it is not open to the public. It's important to stay safe and respect these special, working sites.
