Point of Ayre, Orkney facts for kids
Point of Ayre is a special piece of land in Scotland. It's a headland, which means it's a piece of land that sticks out into the sea. You can find it in a place called Deerness, on the eastern side of Mainland, one of the Orkney islands.
Did you know there are other places with similar names? For example, there's a Point of Ayre on the Isle of Man and a Point of Ayr in Wales.
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What is Point of Ayre?
Point of Ayre is a headland in the beautiful Orkney islands of Scotland. It looks out over the Copinsay Pass, which is a stretch of water.
Where is Point of Ayre Located?
This headland is about 4 miles (6 kilometers) south of another place called Mull Head. It's also around 10 miles away from Kirkwall, which is the main town on the Orkney island of Mainland.
The Amazing Rocks of Point of Ayre
Point of Ayre is famous for its interesting rocks. You can see a thick layer of basalt lava here. This lava flow is about seven meters (or 23 feet) thick!
What Makes the Lava Special?
At the top of this lava, you can find small holes that were once filled with gas bubbles. These holes are now filled with a material called carbonate. Lower down, the lava has a unique way of wearing away. It looks like an "onion-skin" or a round, "spheroidal" pattern. This kind of rock weathering is quite rare to see in Orkney!
