Sarn Badrig
Encyclopedia
Sarn Badrig, also spelled Sarn Padrig (Welsh
for St. Patrick's Causeway), is one of several more or less parallel shingle reefs extending under the sea in Cardigan Bay
on the west coast of Wales
. The causeway is made of glacial deposits left by receding ice sheets at the end of the last ice age
.
Sarn Badrig is the longest and most northerly of these, and extends south-westwards under the sea from Mochras Point, on Shell Island, near Harlech
, parallel to the Llŷn Peninsula
for a length of about 20km, and can be seen at low tide. It is a hazard to shipping.
A neighbouring causeway is that of Sarn y Bwlch, which is close to Tywyn
.
Another example can be found at Sarn Gynfelyn
, which is north of Aberystwyth
.
In Welsh legend it is one of the dykes which protected the drowned realm of Cantre'r Gwaelod.
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
for St. Patrick's Causeway), is one of several more or less parallel shingle reefs extending under the sea in Cardigan Bay
Cardigan Bay
Cardigan Bay is a large inlet of the Irish Sea, indenting the west coast of Wales between Bardsey Island, Gwynedd in the north, and Strumble Head, Pembrokeshire at its southern end. It is the largest bay in Wales....
on the west coast of Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. The causeway is made of glacial deposits left by receding ice sheets at the end of the last ice age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
.
Sarn Badrig is the longest and most northerly of these, and extends south-westwards under the sea from Mochras Point, on Shell Island, near Harlech
Harlech
Harlech is a town and seaside resort in Gwynedd, within the historical boundaries of Merionethshire in northwest Wales. Lying on Tremadog Bay and within the Snowdonia National Park, it has a population of 1,952, of whom 59% speak Welsh...
, parallel to the Llŷn Peninsula
Llŷn Peninsula
The Llŷn Peninsula extends into the Irish Sea from north west Wales, south west of the Isle of Anglesey. It is part of the modern county and historic region of Gwynedd. The name is thought to be of Irish origin, and to have the same root Laigin in Irish as the word Leinster...
for a length of about 20km, and can be seen at low tide. It is a hazard to shipping.
A neighbouring causeway is that of Sarn y Bwlch, which is close to Tywyn
Tywyn
Tywyn is a town and seaside resort on the Cardigan Bay coast of southern Gwynedd , in north Wales. The name derives from the Welsh tywyn and the town is sometimes referred to as Tywyn Meirionnydd...
.
Another example can be found at Sarn Gynfelyn
Sarn Gynfelyn
The Sarn Gynfelyn shingle spit is located at Wallog, a few kilometres north of Llangorwen in the county of Ceredigion, Mid-Wales. It is close to Clarach Bay, south from Borth and north of the regional capital Aberystwyth....
, which is north of Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
.
In Welsh legend it is one of the dykes which protected the drowned realm of Cantre'r Gwaelod.