The Lizard - Definition and Overview

This article is about the peninsula. The Lizard is also the name of a Marvel Comics supervillain: see the Lizard (comics). Also see general information on lizards.

Lizard Point

The Lizard is a peninsula of Cornwall, the most southerly point of mainland England and the island of Great Britain. Historically a particularly hazardous stretch of coastline, it was also known as the "Graveyard of Ships".

It is one of the few places where the rare formicine ant Formica exsecta (the narrow-headed ant), can be found.

The name 'Lizard' is a corruption of the Cornish name 'Lys Airt', meaning 'high court'; it is purely coincidental that much of the peninsula is composed of a rock called serpentine.

Goonhilly Downs on the Lizard is the location of the British Telecom Goonhilly satellite earth station and the Goonhilly wind farm.

External links

• The Lizard Web Directory (http://www.plymouthcity.com/Directory/Cornwall/Lizard/index.html) - a comprehensive directory of The Lizard related websites and services.