Why are there so many shipwrecks along the Cornish coast (in England)?

Question

I have a book that has a map of shipwrecks. That area is THICK with 'em.

Answer 1

Because a lot of them were deliberately wrecked by local people. They shut the lights of in the towers and used other lights to divert ships onto rocks so that they could plunder the wrecks. Get the film Jamaica Inn, Starring Patrick Magoohan

Answer 2

The prevailing winds that blow in from the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean expose ships to the full force of a coastline composed mainly of resistant rocks that give rise in many places to impressive cliffs.  There is no safe harbor on the Cornish coast.

Answer 3

It is the entrance to the English channel where there is the narrowing of the western approaches. The prevailing winds are south west so ships were blown on the north coast. En route from the bay of biscay ships had to make sure they avoided the French peninsulas. Longitude was not know so dead reckoning was essential. Often it failed.  Look up the history of longitude and you will the wrecking on the Scilly Isles

lead to the challenge of defining and calculating longitude by using time. There were Cornish wreckers who deliberatey moved navigation beacons. Today there wrecks are caused by bad weather, poor navigation in dangerous waters  to cause ships to run ashore.

There are safe harbours on the Cornish coast the largest is Falmouth and   Mounts Bay etc. They are  many small harbours but the hahbour at Falmouth can take super tankers

Falmouth is a ria. Do not say Cornwall is a part of England  to a Cornishman. It is an insult.

Answer 4

Look at a sea map. It's the 'Approaches' to England.

Answer 5

I guess it's because so many ships were wrecked there, but you'd have to verify that.

Answer 6

Because a lot of ships wrecked there.

Answer 7

The Cornish coast often has high winds and rough seas and it's a very craggy coastline.

Answer 8

difficult waters , rocky coastline , historically busy shipping lanes .