30 THE UNDERGROUND WATERS OF NORTH-WEST YORKSHIRE. 
than dimly suspected that Gordale Beck (Plate YIII.) suffered any 
amount of absorption in its passage across the limestone plateau. 
Some details of this stream are needful to an understanding 
o 
of the problem. 
The general level of the limestone plateau in this region is 
about 1,250 feet. The stream passes off the Silurian rocks on to 
the Carboniferous Limestone at 1,160 feet, and its valley quickly 
begins to assume the character of a gorge, gradually deepening 
until at the waterfall in little less than a mile it has become 
a wild rocky ravine, 200 feet deep (Plate IX). The stream-level 
has fallen in this distance to 975 feet, while in the next 
300 yards it descends in a series of cascades to 800 feet. A little 
lower dow^n, on the east side, great springs break out from the 
foot of the crags which rise very steeply for 400 feet. Prom this 
description it will be seen that Gordale Beck flows over the 
limestone at an altitude more than 200 feet above the level of 
escape of the springs. This fact prompted the inference that 
the stream must at all times undergo some amount of absorption 
in passing over so permeable a bed as is furnished by the greatly 
fissured limestone. This inference it became possible (for the first 
time within living memory, perhaps) to put to a decisive test. In 
August, 1899, Gordale Waterfall for the first time in its record 
was absolutely dry. The members of the Committee made 
several examinations of the beck, and on 28th August the 
following note was made of a journey dowm stream from the 
point where the beck enters the limestone country : — 
''Gordale Beck, flowing strongly at foot-bridge, dwindles 
and becomes slimy and offensive ; finally bed is quite dry at 
a little above the sheep-fold and wash-dub, w^iere path crosses 
beck." (This point is just above the 1,000 ft. contour.) 
Gordale Beck, then, under conditions of extremest drought, 
suffers the fate of the neighbouring streams, and is swallowed 
up by the limestone. This does not definitely prove that any 
absorption takes place in normal seasons, but it raises a very 
strong presumption in favour of the view that it does, and that 
Gordale Springs are always mainly supplied in this way. 
