Rhino Rift is a cave near Charterhouse, in the Carboniferous Limestone of the Mendip Hills, in Somerset, England. The cave is part of the Cheddar Complex SSSI.

Rhino Rift
Map showing the location of Rhino Rift
Map showing the location of Rhino Rift
LocationCharterhouse, Somerset, UK
OS gridST48475557
Coordinates51°17′49″N 2°44′25″W / 51.296958°N 2.740387°W / 51.296958; -2.740387
Depth147 metres (482 ft)
Length253 metres (830 ft)
Discovery1971
GeologyLimestone
Entrances1
HazardsLoose boulders
AccessRestricted
RegistryMendip Cave Registry[1]

It is 253 m in length and reaches a depth of 147 m.[2]

The cave was discovered in 1971 after a successful dig by members of the Wessex Cave Club.[3] Previous digging by the University of Bristol Spelaeological Society had unearthed remains of extinct animals, hence the cave's name.[4]

The cave is locked and access is controlled by the Charterhouse Caving Company.

Further reading

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  • D. T. Donovan, R. D. Stride & A. M. Ap Simon, Rhino Rift Log: A record of the excavations from 9 Nov 1947 to 13 June 1948 (Excavation log including plans & sections, MS in 19 cm 8vo notebook), library of the University of Bristol Spelaeological Society[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Rhino Rift". Mendip Cave Registry & Archive. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
  2. ^ "Mendip". UK and Ireland Cave Lengths and Depths. Retrieved 18 February 2007.
  3. ^ Audsley, A., 1971. The history of the present dig at Rhino Rift. WCC Jnl 11 (134) pp236-240.
  4. ^ Donovan,D.T., 1951. Report on Rhino Rift. UBSS Proceedings, 6(2), pp 213-0
  5. ^ Transactions of the Cave Research Group of Great Britain, vol. 14 (1972), p. 191