Leck Beck Head Catchment Area Site of Special Scientific Interest
The Leck Beck Head Catchment Area Site of Special Scientific Interest is a Site of Special Scientific Interest located partly in Cumbria and partly in Lancashire , England .
The area is 3 miles east of Kirkby Lonsdale and includes parts of the Casterton Fell, Leck Fell and Ireby Fell. The total area of 703.1 hectares is 236.9 hectares in Cumbria and 466.2 hectares in Lancashire.
The area is of both geological and biological importance. The geological significance arises from the various cave systems that it contains. Among other things, the Easegill Cave System , the longest cave system in Great Britain, is included in the site. The caves were formed during different eras in different ice ages and help to understand the evolution of the landforms above and below the surface of the earth.
The surface water is now diverted into an underground system via 14 sinkholes , comes back to the surface at the Leck Beck Head and forms the Leck Beck there .
The vegetation is determined by the limestone of the landscape, with the Easegill valley being of particular importance.
Web links
- Leck Beck Head Catchment Area on Natural England's SSSI List
Coordinates: 54 ° 13 ′ 49.2 " N , 2 ° 31 ′ 30.1" W.