High Force Waterfall and rock formations
High Force Waterfall. The River Tees drops 21 metres into a deep plunge pool. The water flows over a layer of resistant rock known as the Whin Sill, this formed 295 million years ago from molten rock which solidified underground between older layers of rock. The Whin Sill is now exposed at the surface.
The rocks seen below the Whin Sill were formed 330 million years ago when the North Pennines were at the Equator. The grey rocks are Limestone and the layer above is sandstone.
Force comes from “foss” the Old Norse word for waterfall, this name and other names in the local landscape came with the Viking settlers around 1,100 years ago.
High Force Waterfall and rock formations
High Force Waterfall. The River Tees drops 21 metres into a deep plunge pool. The water flows over a layer of resistant rock known as the Whin Sill, this formed 295 million years ago from molten rock which solidified underground between older layers of rock. The Whin Sill is now exposed at the surface.
The rocks seen below the Whin Sill were formed 330 million years ago when the North Pennines were at the Equator. The grey rocks are Limestone and the layer above is sandstone.
Force comes from “foss” the Old Norse word for waterfall, this name and other names in the local landscape came with the Viking settlers around 1,100 years ago.