Wicklow Mountains

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Wicklow Mountains (Sléibhte Chill Mhantáin)
Range
none The Upper Lake at Glendalough
The Upper Lake at Glendalough
Country Ireland
Province Leinster
Counties Wicklow, Dublin, Carlow, Wexford
Part of Leinster Chain [1]
Towns Bray, Enniskerry, Laragh, Glendalough, Roundwood, Blessington, Clonegal
Highest point Lugnaquilla
 - elevation 925 m (3,035 ft)
 - coordinates 52°57′57″N 6°27′46″W / 52.96583, -6.46278
Length 66 km (41 mi) [2]
Width 43 km (27 mi)
Area 3,000 km² (1,158 sq mi) [3]
Geology Granite [4]
Orogeny Collision between European and North American plates
Period 500 million years ago

The Wicklow Mountains (Irish: Sléibhte Chill Mhantáin; including at the northern end the Dublin Mountains) are a range of mountains in the southeast of Ireland. They run in a north-south direction from south County Dublin across County Wicklow and into County Wexford. Lugnaquilla is the highest peak in the range at 925 m (3035 ft), Mullaghcleevaun at 847 m (2,780 ft) is the second highest, while the summit of Kippure is the highest point in County Dublin, at 757 m (2,484 ft).

The River Slaney has its source southwest of Lugnaquilla and then flows south along the western slopes of the mountains for some 72 km (45 mi) before entering the St George's Channel at Wexford. The Turlough Hill power station is the only pumped storage hydroelectricity scheme in Ireland; it is located on the Wicklow Gap midway between Hollywood and Glendalough.

The whole area is much frequented, especially at weekends, by Dubliners, as the region offers multiple choices of recreation, ranging from fishing to rafting to hill walking. Also in its midst lies the monastic settlement of Glendalough, believed to have been founded by St. Kevin, and now a popular tourist attraction; as well as Powerscourt Waterfall, the highest waterfall in Ireland.

The southern limits of the Wicklow Mountains are set by Croghan Mountain, the highest point on the Wicklow-Wexford border and the scene (in the 19th century) of Ireland's only Gold Rush.

Contents

[edit] Highest peaks

Main article: Mountain peaks of the Wicklow Mountains

The following sortable table lists the 10 highest major mountain peaks of the Wicklow Mountains, all with a topographic elevation of at least 725 m (2,379 ft). Topographic elevation is defined as the vertical distance above the reference geoid, a precise mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface.

Rank Mountain peak Elevation Photo
1 Lugnaquilla 925 m (3,035 ft) CO0497   
2 Mullaghcleevaun 849 m (2,785 ft) CO0497   
3 Tonelagee 817 m (2,680 ft) CO0497   
4 Cloghernagh 800 m (2,625 ft) CO0497   
5 Corrigasleggaun 794 m (2,605 ft) CO0497   
6 Slievemaan 759 m (2,490 ft) CO0497   
7 Camenabologue 758 m (2,487 ft) CO0497   
8 Kippure 757 m (2,484 ft) CO0497   
9 Conavalla 734 m (2,408 ft) CO0497   
10 Djouce 725 m (2,379 ft) CO0497   

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Wicklow Mountains Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 01-09-07.
  2. ^ Flora and Fauna of Wicklow Ask About Ireland. Retrieved on 01-09-07.
  3. ^ JF fieldtrip to the Wicklow Mountains Trinity College Dublin. Retrieved on 01-09-07.
  4. ^ Formation of the Wicklow Mountains WicklowNationalPark.ie. Updated on 13-07-05. Retreieved on 01-09-07.

[edit] External links

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Coordinates: 53°05′N, 6°20′W