Editing Cornwall (section)

==Physical geography==
{{Main|Geography of Cornwall|Geology of Cornwall}}
[[File:Cw2.jpg|thumb|right|Satellite image of Cornwall]]

Cornwall forms the tip of the south-west peninsula of the island of [[Great Britain]], and is therefore exposed to the full force of the [[prevailing winds]] that blow in from the Atlantic Ocean. The coastline is composed mainly of [[resistance (geology)|resistant]] rocks that give rise in many places to tall cliffs. Cornwall has a border with only one other county, [[Devon]], which is formed almost entirely by the [[River Tamar]], and the remainder (to the north) by the [[Marsland Valley]].

===Coastal areas===
The north and south coasts have different characteristics. The north coast on the [[Celtic Sea]], part of the Atlantic Ocean, is more exposed and therefore has a wilder nature. The ''High Cliff'', between [[Boscastle]] and [[St Gennys]], is the highest sheer-drop cliff in Cornwall at {{convert|223|m|ft}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southwestcoastpath.com/main/sections/index.cfm?fsa=dspSectionDetail&w_id=147 |title=The Official Guide to the South West Coast Path |publisher=Southwestcoastpath.com |access-date=25 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611114118/http://www.southwestcoastpath.com/main/sections/index.cfm?fsa=dspSectionDetail&w_id=147 |archive-date=11 June 2011 }}</ref> Beaches, which form an important part of the tourist industry, include [[Bude]], [[Polzeath]], [[Watergate Bay]], [[Perranporth]], [[Porthtowan]], [[Fistral Beach]], [[Newquay]], [[St Agnes, Cornwall|St Agnes]], [[St Ives, Cornwall|St Ives]], and on the south coast [[Gyllyngvase]] beach in [[Falmouth, Cornwall|Falmouth]] and the large beach at [[Praa Sands]] further to the south-west. There are two river estuaries on the north coast: [[Hayle Estuary]] and the estuary of the [[River Camel]], which provides [[Padstow]] and [[Rock, Cornwall|Rock]] with a safe harbour. The seaside town of [[Newlyn]] is a popular holiday destination, as it is one of the last remaining traditional Cornish fishing ports, with views reaching over Mount's Bay.

[[File:St-Michael Mount.jpg|thumb|right|[[St Michael's Mount]] in Marazion]]
The south coast, dubbed the "Cornish Riviera", is more sheltered and there are several broad estuaries offering safe anchorages, such as at Falmouth and [[Fowey]]. Beaches on the south coast usually consist of coarser sand and shingle, interspersed with rocky sections of [[wave-cut platform]]. Also on the south coast, the picturesque fishing village of [[Polperro]], at the mouth of the Pol River, and the fishing port of [[Looe]] on the [[River Looe]] are both popular with tourists.

===Inland areas===
{{Unreferenced section|date=February 2025}}
The interior of the county consists of a roughly east–west spine of infertile and exposed upland, with a series of [[granite]] intrusions, such as [[Bodmin Moor]], which contains the highest land within Cornwall. From east to west, and with approximately descending altitude, these are Bodmin Moor, [[Hensbarrow]] north of [[St Austell]], [[Carnmenellis]] to the south of [[Camborne]], and the [[Penwith]] or [[Land's End]] peninsula. These intrusions are the central part of the granite outcrops that form the exposed parts of the [[Cornubian batholith]] of south-west Britain, which also includes [[Dartmoor]] to the east in Devon and the [[Isles of Scilly]] to the west, the latter now being partially submerged.

[[File:Porthcurno beach.jpg|thumb|Cornwall is known for its beaches (Porthcurno Beach illustrated) and rugged coastline]]
The intrusion of the granite into the surrounding [[sedimentary]] rocks gave rise to extensive [[metamorphism]] and [[Mineralization (geology)|mineralisation]], and this led to Cornwall being one of the most important mining areas in Europe until the early 20th century. It is thought [[tin]] was mined here as early as the [[Bronze Age]], and copper, lead, [[zinc]] and silver have all been [[Mining in Cornwall|mined in Cornwall]]. Alteration of the granite also gave rise to extensive deposits of [[Kaolinite|China Clay]], especially in the area to the north of St Austell, and the extraction of this remains an important industry.

The uplands are surrounded by more fertile, mainly [[pasture|pastoral]] farmland. Near the south coast, deep wooded valleys provide sheltered conditions for flora that like shade and a moist, mild climate. These areas lie mainly on [[Devonian]] [[sandstone]] and [[slate]]. The north east of Cornwall lies on [[Carboniferous]] rocks known as the [[Culm Measures]]. In places these have been subjected to severe folding, as can be seen on the north coast near [[Crackington Haven]] and in several other locations.

===Lizard Peninsula===
{{Main|Lizard complex}}

The [[Geology of Lizard, Cornwall|geology of the Lizard peninsula]] is unusual, in that it is mainland Britain's only example of an [[ophiolite]], a section of oceanic crust now found on land.{{efn|Britain's only other example of an ophiolite, the Shetland ophiolite, is older, and linked to the Grampian [[Orogeny]].}} Much of the peninsula consists of the dark green and red [[Precambrian]] [[serpentinite]], which forms spectacular cliffs, notably at [[Kynance Cove]], and carved and polished serpentine ornaments are sold in local gift shops. This [[ultramafic rock]] also forms a very infertile soil which covers the flat and marshy heaths of the interior of the peninsula. This is home to rare plants, such as the [[Erica vagans|Cornish Heath]], which has been adopted as the [[county flower]].<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=5430 |title=The Cornish Heath – County Flower |access-date=5 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080930154036/http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=5430 |archive-date=30 September 2008 }}</ref>

===Hills and high points===
{{main|List of hills of Cornwall}}