Ogof Llyn Parc facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ogof Llyn Parc |
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![]() Entrance shaft
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Location | Esclusham Mountain, Wrexham, Wales |
OS grid | SJ 2494 5067 |
Depth | 430 metres (1,410 ft) |
Length | 4.0 kilometres (2.5 mi) |
Discovery | North Wales Caving Club |
Geology | Limestone |
Hazards | 100 metres (330 ft) entrance shaft |
Access | contact North Wales Caving Club |
Registry | Cambrian Cave Registry |
Ogof Llyn Parc, often called Pool Park, is an amazing cave located on Esclusham Mountain in Wrexham, Wales. It's known for its incredibly deep entrance, which drops about 100 meters (that's like falling down a 30-story building!). To get down, explorers usually use a special machine called a winch. This takes them to old mine tunnels. From there, they use ladders and more caving skills to reach the natural parts of the cave, where underground streams flow.
Contents
Discovering Ogof Llyn Parc
Ogof Llyn Parc was first explored by the North Wales Caving Club. These brave explorers were the first to venture into its dark depths and map out its hidden passages. Their hard work helped us learn about this incredible underground world.
What Makes This Cave Special?
Ogof Llyn Parc is unique because it combines both natural cave formations and old mine workings. This means you can see how nature created amazing underground spaces, and also how people once dug tunnels for mining.
The Deep Entrance
The most famous part of the cave is its 100-meter entrance shaft. Imagine looking down into a giant hole that deep! Because it's so deep, cavers don't just climb down. They use a winch, which is like a big elevator system, to safely lower themselves into the cave. This makes the start of the adventure very exciting.
Exploring Inside
Once inside the mine levels, cavers continue their journey. They use ladders to go even deeper into the natural cave sections. Here, they find underground rivers and streams that have carved out the rock over thousands of years. Exploring these parts requires special gear and lots of training.
How Caves Are Formed
Ogof Llyn Parc is a limestone cave. Limestone is a type of rock that dissolves slowly when water flows over it. Over a very long time, rainwater, which is slightly acidic, seeps into cracks in the limestone. It slowly eats away at the rock, creating tunnels, chambers, and shafts like those found in Ogof Llyn Parc. This process can take millions of years!
Visiting Ogof Llyn Parc
This cave is not open to the public for casual visits because it's very challenging and can be dangerous for untrained people. If you are interested in learning more about caving or perhaps exploring caves safely in the future, you can contact the North Wales Caving Club. They are experts and can provide information on how to get involved in caving safely.