Moel yr Ogof facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Moel yr Ogof |
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Moel yr Ogof from Moel Hebog with Moel Lefn behind.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 655 m (2,149 ft) |
| Prominence | 118 m (387 ft) |
| Parent peak | Moel Hebog |
| Listing | Hewitt, Nuttall, HuMP |
| Naming | |
| English translation | hill of the cave |
| Language of name | Welsh |
| Geography | |
| Location | Snowdonia, Gwynedd, Wales |
| Parent range | Moel Hebog |
| OS grid | SH565469 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 115 |
Moel yr Ogof is a mountain peak found in Snowdonia, a beautiful national park in Wales. It's like a smaller helper peak to a bigger mountain called Moel Hebog. It also has a "sister" peak nearby named Moel Lefn, which is a bit lower.
Near the very top of Moel yr Ogof, people once tried to dig for a mineral called asbestos. They found a small amount of white asbestos, but there wasn't enough to make it worth mining for money.
The Rocks of Moel yr Ogof
The very top of Moel yr Ogof is made of a special type of rock called brecciated rhyolite. This rock looks like it formed when a dome of rhyolite collapsed a long, long time ago.
Layers of Rock
Around the top part of the mountain, you can see different layers of rock. These layers switch between two main types:
- Pillow Basalt: This rock looks like stacked pillows! It's a dark green or black rock that formed from cooled lava. Over time, it can turn reddish-brown because of iron inside it.
- Sandstone: This is a pale green or grey rock. It's made of fine sand grains. You can often see cool patterns in it, like 'cross-bedding' and 'ripple marks'. These patterns tell us that the sandstone formed in a place with tides, like an ancient beach or river delta.
A Fold in the Mountain
There's a really big fold in the layers of rock that goes right through Moel yr Ogof. This fold is called a 'syncline'. You can actually see this fold in the mountain's shape if you look at it from the south side, especially when you're walking up towards the Moel Hebog ridge.
What Else Can You Find?
A famous cave, known as Owain Glyndŵr's cave, is located on the cliffs on the eastern side of the mountain. Owain Glyndŵr was a very important Welsh leader from history.
To the northeast of Moel yr Ogof is the Beddgelert Forest, a large area of trees. To the west, you'll find a valley called Cwm Pennant. From the top of Moel yr Ogof, you can get great views of the Nantlle Ridge to the north.
