Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

55.24032 - 6.33141Koordinaten: 55 ° 14 ' N, 6 ° 20 ' W

Carrick -a-Rede (including Carrick-a- Rade or Carrickarade, Irish Carraig on RAID) is an island in Northern Ireland. It is located off the coast of County Antrim between Ballycastle and Ballintoy. The island is connected by a suspension bridge to the mainland is uninhabited.

Name

The island's name means " rock in the way" and refers to the fact that this small rocky island located right in the path of the salmon to their spawning grounds. The salmon swim around the island and are so easy to catch with a net. Also the many seabirds on the island find so little food.

The bridge and the tourism

It is a narrow suspension bridge for pedestrians that spans a strait of 20 meters at a height of 30 meters. The walk to the bridge takes 15 min. and via a partly quite steep path.

There was a bridge here since about 350 years. It was originally built by fishermen, the network began with a salmon from the island. As the seas around the island on a boat crossing often prevented attacked the fishermen to this solution. Originally, the bridge was excited just for the salmon season from June to August.

In the 1970s was still a simple suspension bridge with single handrail and widely spaced wood kicks to use. Although the bridge is often exposed to strong winds and varies accordingly, should never be an accident someone. But since it occurred earlier often that tourists no longer dared cross the bridge from the island back then and had to be picked up by boat, a stronger bridge with handrails on both sides and lateral networks was built.

Today the bridge is open primarily a tourist attraction, and from March to November. Fishing plays only a minor role. 2008, a new bridge made ​​of steel rope and Douglas fir was built. The bridge is owned by the National Trust. For the use of the bridge for a fee is required.

In 2007 visited Carrick -a-Rede 227,000 tourists. Which are going through nearby Giant's Causeway still attracts more people. From the island you have a great view of the rocky coast of Antrim and Rathlin to Iceland. On a clear day you can see up to Scotland.

Fishing

On the island there is a small hut and a winch for the salmon nets. The catch, however, are rapidly declining. 1960 300 fish per day were still trapped, in 2002 there were only 300 in the entire season. Originally the salmon fishing was the main source of income in the season. Today, the tourists bring in the money.

The fauna

The island and the opposite cliff offer colonies nesting seabirds that nest in and on the rocks, a habitat. One can find puffins, eider ducks, petrels, Kittywakes, guillemots and razorbills. Therefore, it is also important not to leave the marked trails.

Swell

  • Http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/product.aspx?ProductID=2829
  • Http://www.northantrim.com/carrick_a_rede.htm
  • Http://www.emeraldtiger.com/countys/antrim/ropebridge.htm
  • Http://www.ballymoneytimes.co.uk/news/Rope-bridge-signals-start-of.3836641.jp
  • Http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-carrickarede/ Official Homepage
  • Guide Ireland - Michael Müller Verlag, Erlangen
  • Island (Northern Ireland)
  • Island ( Europe)
  • Island (Atlantic Ocean )
  • Island of the British Isles
  • County Antrim
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