Editing Gower Peninsula (section)

== Geography ==
{{main|Geology of the Gower Peninsula}}
[[Image:Worm's Head (Rhossili).jpg|thumb|left|[[Worm's Head]]<br />causeway exposed at low tide]]
About {{convert|70|sqmi|km2}} in area, Gower is known for its [[coastline]], popular with [[walking|walkers]] and outdoor enthusiasts, especially surfers. Gower has many caves, including [[Paviland Cave]] and Minchin Hole Cave. The [[peninsula]] is bounded by the [[Loughor Estuary]] to the north and [[Swansea Bay]] to the east. Gower [[Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty]] covers 188&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, including most of the peninsula west of [[Villages in Gower#Crofty|Crofty]], [[Villages in Gower#Three Crosses|Three Crosses]], [[Villages in Gower#Upper Killay|Upper Killay]], [[Blackpill, Swansea|Blackpill]] and [[Bishopston, Swansea|Bishopston]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.swansea.gov.uk/media/pdf/0/8/AONB%20Leaflet.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090326015927/http://www.swansea.gov.uk/media/pdf/0/8/AONB%20Leaflet.pdf|url-status=dead|title=The City and County of Swansea|archive-date=26 March 2009}}</ref>  The highest point of Gower is The Beacon at Rhossili Down at {{convert|193|m|ft|abbr=off}} overlooking Rhossili Bay.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://enjoygower.com/rhosilli-bay/ |title=Rhossili Bay |website=Enjoy Gower |access-date=25 January 2019}}</ref> Pwll Du and the Bishopton Valley form a statutory [[Local Nature Reserve]].<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.opengreenmap.org/greenmap/swansea-green-map/pwll-du-bishopston-valley-local-nature-reserve-1449|title= Pwll Du and Bishopton Local Nature Reserve|publisher=Green Map|access-date= 8 December 2010}}</ref>

The southern coast consists of a series of small, rocky or sandy bays, such as [[Langland Bay|Langland]] and [[Three Cliffs Bay|Three Cliffs]], and larger beaches such as [[Port Eynon]], [[Rhossili]] and [[Oxwich Bay]]. The north of the peninsula has fewer beaches, and is home to the [[Cockle (bivalve)|cockle]]-beds of [[Penclawdd]].

The northern coast is mainly [[salt marsh]], and is used for raising Gower salt marsh lamb which was registered as a Protected Designation of Origin in 2021 under UK law<ref>{{cite news|publisher=BBC News|title=Gower salt marsh lamb receives protected status|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-58164754|date=11 August 2021|access-date=11 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Welsh Gower Salt Marsh Lamb first new registration under new UK Geographical Indication schemes |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/welsh-gower-salt-marsh-lamb-first-new-registration-under-new-uk-geographical-indication-schemes |publisher=Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs |date=11 August 2021 |quote=The meat gains its unique characteristics from specific vegetation and environment of the salt marshes on the north Gower coastline, where the lambs graze over long distances for more than half of their lifetime.}}</ref> and in 2023 under EU law.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2023/1547/oj|work=European Commission|title=Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1547 of 26 July 2023 entering a name in the register of protected designations of origin and protected geographical indications ('Gower Salt Marsh Lamb' (PDO))|access-date=29 July 2023|date=27 July 2023}}</ref>

The interior is mainly farmland and [[common land]]. The population mainly resides in small [[Villages in Gower|villages and communities]] with some [[suburban]] development in eastern Gower; part of the [[Swansea Urban Area]].<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/240287/Gower Gower (2008). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved July 22, 2008, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online]</ref>