Is that a crater from a comet?

It’s always interesting to hear people talk about the images and landscapes when they come into the gallery, and yesterday we were asked “Is that where a comet hit?” when they were looking at one of our latest images, Llyn Cau, captured on a beautiful sunny day in August.

Llyn Cau does look like it could be the result of a dramatic comet crash—it’s got that perfect round shape and is tucked away on the rugged slopes of Cadair Idris in Southern Snowdonia. But nope, it wasn't created by some fiery space rock smashing into Earth.

Instead, Llyn Cau is actually is a classic example of a cirque or corrie, a bowl-shaped depression formed by glacial erosion. During the last Ice Age, about 10,000 years ago, this area was covered in massive glaciers. These glaciers slowly carved out the land as they moved, grinding away at the mountainside. Over time, the glacier’s movement scooped out a bowl-shaped hollow in the landscape. When the ice finally melted, it left behind this beautiful, serene lake - Llyn Cau.

So, while it might look like something out of a sci-fi movie, Llyn Cau’s origins are a little less explosive and a lot more icy!

The image is called Craig Cau and is available to buy from our high street gallery and online