Geography in Kerry
Botany | Topography | Zoology |
Botany
Lough Derg is the lower of the two great lake-like expansions of the Shannon, the other, Lough Ree, lying further up the river. Save at its southern end, where he lake is embosomed in hills of Silurian slate, the winding shores are. formed of low-lying limestones, and the numerous islands arc composed of the same rock. Botanical interest centres on the low, uncultivated islets and reefs, and on the sloping, stony shores. Here a peculiar flora is developed, as the following list of abundant plants will show :
Westward a few miles, across the deep gash in which lies the Upper Lake of Killarney, Macgillicuddys Recks rise head and shoulders above the surrounding sea of hills. Those arc a beautiful group of lofty cones, with steep sides and many imposing cliff ranges, and deep coombs in which lie dark tarns. The loftiest, Carrantuohill, the highest mountain in Ireland, attains 3414 ft., and several of the other peaks exceed 3000 ft. At the cast end of the Reeks the famous Gap of Dunloe, through which a road runs, separates them from the Purple Mountain group which looks down on the Lower Lake.
Castlegregory lies at the foot of a narrow neck of land which divides Tralee Bay from Brandon Bay. The Castlegregory Arch, a doorway in the shape of an arch from the castle of Gregory Hoare can still be seen in the village at Tailor’s Row. There was a narrow gauge railway line (1891-1939) from Tralee to Dingle with a branch line to Castlegregory. This line was very popular because of the beautiful scenery on either sides. The light railway from Tralee to Dingle proved to be dangerous by two events, the “pig special disaster” in which the train plunged off the Camp bridge in 1893, and a few years later when the train was blown away from the tracks by a gust of wind at Driscoll cottage. Harry Clarke Window in the Catholic church in Castlegregory is a stained glass window. It was designed by Ireland’s finest artist in stained glass painting. Surfing: This area is famous for surfing with the world championships been held there last year 2000. Essentials: Ample number of fine restaurants, pubs and petrol stations are here