Castle Rock (Edinburgh)
| Castle Rock | |
|---|---|
 Castle Rock as seen from Princes Street | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 140 m (460 ft)[1] |
| Prominence | c. 80 m (260 ft) |
| Listing | Tump |
| Coordinates | 55°56′55″N 3°12′03″W / 55.948611°N 3.200833°W |
| Geography | |
  Castle Rock Edinburgh, Scotland | |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 66 |
| Geology | |
| Rock age | ~350 million years |
| Mountain type(s) | Crag and tail, volcanic plug |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | Unknown |
Castle Rock is a volcanic plug in the middle of Edinburgh upon which Edinburgh Castle sits. The rock is estimated to have formed some 350 million years ago during the early Carboniferous period. It is the remains of a volcanic pipe which cut through the surrounding sedimentary rock, before cooling to form very hard dolerite, a coarser-grained equivalent of basalt. Subsequent glacial erosion was resisted more by the dolerite, which protected the softer rock to the east, leaving a crag and tail formation.[2]
The summit of the castle rock is 130 metres (430 ft) above sea level, with rocky cliffs to the south, west and north, rearing up to 80 metres (260 ft) from the surrounding landscape.[1] This means that the only readily accessible route to the castle lies to the east, where the ridge slopes more gently. The defensive advantage of such a site is clear, but the geology of the rock also presents difficulties, since basalt is an extremely poor aquifer. Providing water to the Upper Ward of the castle was problematic, and despite the sinking of a 28-metre (92 ft) deep well, the water supply often ran out during drought or siege,[3] for example during the Lang Siege of 1573.[4]
References
- ^ a b MacIvor, Iain (1993). Edinburgh Castle. p. 16. ISBN 9780713472950.
- ^ McAdam, David (2003). Edinburgh and West Lothian: A Landscape Fashioned by Geology. p. 16. ISBN 9781853973277.
- ^ Dunbar, John G (1999). Scottish Royal Palaces: The Architecture of the Royal Residences During the Late Medieval and Early Renaissance Periods. p. 192. ISBN 9781862320420.
- ^ Potter, Harry (2003). Edinburgh Under Siege: 1571-1573. p. 137. ISBN 9780752423326.
