Glenthorne, Protected ecological site in Exmoor National Park, Great Britain.
Glenthorne is a protected ecological site spanning across the border of Somerset and Devon within Exmoor National Park, showcasing distinctive sandstone layers and freshwater deposits from the Middle Devonian period. The landscape reveals rock formations that developed under very different environmental conditions than exist today.
The site received protected status in 1989 when Natural England designated it as a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its geological importance. This protection acknowledged the value of these rock formations for understanding Earth's prehistoric development.
Scientists and researchers regularly visit Glenthorne to study the Middle Devonian sequence and observe the Hangman Sandstone Group formations.
Access to this protected area requires advance permission from conservation authorities to safeguard the sensitive geological features on site. Visitors should check beforehand which areas are open to the public and what guidelines apply when visiting.
The site contains rare Hangman Grits, sandstone deposits that formed in desert-like conditions during the Middle Devonian period. These unusual sediments offer a window into a vanished landscape that once existed on Earth.
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