{"id":38655,"date":"2023-09-09T22:33:14","date_gmt":"2023-09-09T22:33:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/miamiheatnation.com\/?p=38655"},"modified":"2023-09-09T22:33:14","modified_gmt":"2023-09-09T22:33:14","slug":"uks-longest-lasting-snow-patch-melts-away-for-only-the-10th-time-in-300-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/miamiheatnation.com\/world-news\/uks-longest-lasting-snow-patch-melts-away-for-only-the-10th-time-in-300-years\/","title":{"rendered":"UK’s longest-lasting snow patch melts away for only the 10th time in 300 years"},"content":{"rendered":"

The longest-lasting patch of snow in the UK has melted away during the September heatwave.<\/p>\n

The patch of snow, known as the \u201cSphinx\u201d, is believed to have only melted 10 times in the last 300 years.<\/p>\n

Located on a sheltered part of Braeriach in Cairngorms, Scotland \u2013 the UK's third-highest mountain at 4,252ft.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: Met Office heatwave UK weather forecast as 'five days' of 30C bakes Britain <\/b><\/p>\n

Snow expert Iain Cameron, who monitors the condition of the patch, said it melted away earlier this week.<\/p>\n

Up until 100 years ago, it was thought to be a permanent feature on the mountain but the Sphinx has melted five times since 2017.<\/p>\n

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It previously melted fully in 1933, 1959, 1996, 2003, 2006, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022 and now 2023.<\/p>\n

According to experts, before 1933, the patch of snow is thought to have completely melted in the 1700s \u2013 though there is no formal record of this.<\/p>\n

While other mountains across Scotland are known to have long-lasting snow patches, the Sphinx is considered to be the longest-lasting.<\/p>\n

It sits on a 1,296m Munro and was named after a climbing route near the snow patch.<\/p>\n

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