Gordale Scar

Some more views of Gordale Scar

[N.B. To get some idea of the scale, note the person in the middle distance at the foot of the cliff face on the right...]

A great limestone gorge near Malham some 400 feet (150 m) deep, Gordale Scar is a spectacular feature of the Craven Fault and is believed by some geologists to be the remains of a huge underground cavern whose roof collapsed around the time of the last ice age. Gordale Beck cascades down the ravine in two separate waterfalls, the higher of which pours through a natural arch in the rock above the lower (double) waterfall. A short scramble takes visitors (at their own risk !) up the tufa* deposits at the lower (double) waterfall into the top section of the gorge, where a route leads out onto Malham Moor and on towards Malham Tarn.

Gordale Scar is undeniably impressive, and is the subject of a famous painting by Turner entitled "Gordale Scar" (circa 1816) - which is presently in the Turner Collection of the Tate Britain museum in London. The gorge was also sketched and painted by James Ward, whose works are also in the Tate Collection in London.

* = Tufa is a smooth limestone deposit usually formed when water containing calcium carbonate passes over exposed rock. Another fine example of this type of deposit can be seen at the nearby waterfall of Janet's Foss.

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