Wicklow Mountains
P1P5
The Wicklow Mountains (Irish Sléibhte Chill Mhantáin ) are a mountain range in the east and south-east of Ireland. They run in a north-south direction, directly from the south of Dublin on the County Wicklow to County Wexford.
Geology and flora
The Wicklow Mountains are mainly composed of granite and slate, which were folded during the Caledonian orogeny phase. The rounded by Ice Age glaciers, mountains are large areas covered by (mostly ceiling ) moors.
Under these conditions, a diverse flora has developed. In the valleys and lower slopes this consists mainly of royal fern, gorse and heather, grasses such as sedges and wild blueberries. In particular, the heathers contribute during the flowering period in summer to a characteristic of the Wicklow Mountains picture in which you cover whole hillsides purple.
Forests are rather the exception, as these were early time cut down by humans in the Wicklow Mountains. The wide- scale deforestation was the cause of the prevalence of Moore. At the present time, however, reforested increased areal. However, these are no longer the original oak and birch forests, but fast-growing spruce species whose wood is used for the timber industry within a few years. However, for some years to restock the purpose of restoring the original hardwood forests in some places will be held again, such as in the northern slopes of Derrybawn Mountains above the Lower Lakes of Glendalough.
Mountains
The Wicklow Mountains are, like all Irish mountains are not particularly high. Highest mountain is Lugnaquilla 925 m followed by Mullaghcleevaun with 849 m and 817 m with Tonelagee.
Other mountains ( according to height):
- Corrigasleggaun ( 794 m)
- Slievemaan ( 759 m)
- Camenabologue ( 758 m)
- Kippure (757 m)
- Conavalla ( 734 m)
- Djouce ( 725 m)
- Seefingan ( 723 m)
By dominated by moors most mountains in the Wicklow Mountains have a rounded plateau-like top. Due to severe soil erosion, these are often with some man-sized soil furrows (so-called peat hags ) coated. In particular, by popular hiking are already stronger erosion paths emerged, such as at Mount Djouce. On the part of various organizations, most notably the Wicklow Mountains National Park are frequently used trails (such as parts of Spink in Glendalough ) designed to avoid amplification of erosion by man with floor planks (so-called boardwalks ).
Rivers, lakes and water use
The River Slaney has its source in the south west of the mountain Lugnaquilla and flows 117 km wide along the western foothills of the mountains to the south, before it opens at Wexford over the St. George Channel in the Irish Sea. The River Liffey, widely known as having significant part of the cityscape of Dublin its source east of Kippure and southeast of the Sally Gap. Numerous lakes, called Lough, also also characterize the landscape. Among the most important to it include Lough Tay (also called Lake Luggala ), Lough Dan, Lough Bray Lough Oyler, Lough Nahanagan and the Upper Lake and Lower Lake in Glendalough.
In the Wicklow Mountains are several waterfalls. Biggest and most famous waterfall is the Powerscourt Waterfall, the highest waterfall in Ireland at the same time. Another major waterfall is located in Glenmacnass directly on Military Road east of the mountain Scarr. The Poulanass Waterfall in Glendalough is another well known waterfall in the Wicklow Mountains.
The Turlough Hill power plant is the only pumped storage power plant project in Ireland. It is located on the top of Turlough Hill, right on the Old Military Road and close to the Wicklow Gap.
In Roundwood on the eastern foothills of the mountain range, the Vartry Reservoir Lakes, representing the drinking water supply for Dublin is located. On the other side at the western foot of the Blessington Lakes, which also serve as a reservoir for the Dublin water supply is located.
Recreation area
The entire area is particularly visited on weekends by many Dubliners and foreign tourists, as the region offers many forms of recreation, such as fishing or rafting. The most popular, however, is the hiking. Each year, the Lug Walk takes place, named after the mountain Lugnaquilla (see above): The march of about 50 km in length usually leads through swampy or very rough terrain and over 18 summit. In the midst of the mountain range lies Glendalough, which was, according to legend founded by Saint Kevin and boasts, among others, with the ruins of six churches monastery. Glendalough advertises " the spiritual capital of Ireland " to be.
Attractions
In the heart of the Wicklow Mountains, the Wicklow Mountain National Park is a visitor center at Glendalough, where visitors can learn about the landscape, the local flora and fauna as well as the many well-marked trails. Parking and visitor center are located in a valley at Lower Lake, adjoined by the Upper Lake. To the two lakes several trails to be found with different levels of difficulty and route lengths ( longest distance: 11 km; 580 meters altitude). With appropriate footwear and raingear if necessary, the majority of trails for inexperienced hikers vacation is no problem
From many vantage points one has a view of the valley, where the Visitors Center and the Lower and the Upper Lake are located, and from several points on the whole area of the Wicklow Mountains. The National Park boasts vegetation, but not least also because of the old monastery situated in the midst of the village of Glendalough.
The Powerscourt Gardens are located on the northern foothills of the Wicklow Mountains at the foot of the 503 m high Sugar Loaf Mountain near the village of Enniskerry about 20 km south of Dublin; they are considered one of the finest facilities of its kind in Ireland, covering approximately 190,000 square meters.
Russborough House is a manor house dating from the 18th century. The now publicly accessible building was built by Richard Cassels in the Palladian style for the first Earl of Milltown. Today's interior design and art collection presented here come mainly from the last occupants, Sir Alfred Lane Beit and Lady Clementine Beit.
The Wicklow Gold or Irish Gold Rush of 1795
1795 was a schoolmaster in the river Aughatinavought (now Gold Mine River) gold. This was not a secret for long, and in the autumn of the same year many of his neighbors were going to get gold out of the river. The largest reference was the Red Hole, about a kilometer below the bridge of Ballinagore located. Within six weeks to have been washed about 80 kg of gold. Among the Wicklow Nugget, about 682 grams, and the largest lump of gold, which has been found in the British Isles. A copy is located in the Natural History Museum of London. The original was melted down. It is claimed that they had a snuffbox for George III. made from it.
On October 15, 1795, the British government took over the business, which was legalized, 18 months later by the Parliament. By 1800 more than 300 kg of gold were washed, but the yield went back more and more; 1801, the mine was closed. Until 1803 they were looking for the Urader, but could not find them.
The origin of the Wicklow gold
Despite extensive excavations in 1800 by Thomas Weaver, the geologist of the gold mine, nothing was found. His numerous search trenches - it should have been almost 13 kilometers - can be seen according to reports today in the mountain Corghan Kinsella.
Even today's attempts to get to the origin by isotope analysis to trace have so far been unsuccessful. We now know that the reference is the bed of a much older river that flowed before the orogeny in the present territory. All other veins of gold in the area therefore have a different isotope combination.
Nowadays, the area is part of the Wicklow Mountains National Park. The short gold rush inspired the Irish composer John O'Keefe for the comic opera The Wicklow montains.