Cheddar Gorge is a limestone gorge in the Mendip Hills, near the village of Cheddar in Somerset

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Cheddar Gorge is a limestone gorge in the Mendip Hills, near the village of Cheddar in Somerset, England. The gorge is the site of the Cheddar show caves, where Britain's oldest complete human skeleton, Cheddar Man, estimated to be over 9,000 years old, was found in 1903. Older remains from the Upper Late Palaeolithic era (12,000–13,000 years ago) have been found. The caves, produced by the activity of an underground river, contain stalactites and stalagmites. Cheddar Gorge, including the caves and other attractions, has become a tourist destination. In a 2005 poll of Radio Times readers, following its appearance on the 2005 television programme Seven Natural Wonders, Cheddar Gorge was named as the second greatest natural wonder in Britain, surpassed only by Dan yr Ogof caves. The gorge attracts about 500,000 visitors per year.

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Location: Cheddar Gorge is a limestone gorge in the Mendip Hills, near the village of Cheddar in Somerset
Photo credit: © Rik Hamilton / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No

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