Sperrins

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The Sperrins
Na Speiríní[1]

Sawel mountain, the highest point of the Sperrins
Highest point
Peak Sawel Mountain
Elevation 678 m (2,224 ft)
Geography
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Constituent country Northern Ireland
Counties County Tyrone, County Londonderry
Geology
Orogeny Caledonian orogeny
Type of rock Schist, Quartzite[2]

Coordinates: 54°48′00″N 7°04′59″W / 54.800°N 7.083°W / 54.800; -7.083 The Sperrins or Sperrin Mountains (from Irish Speirín, meaning "little pinnacle"[3]) are a range of mountains in Northern Ireland and one of the largest upland areas in Ireland. The range stretches the counties of Tyrone and Londonderry from south of Strabane eastwards to Slieve Gallion in Desertmartin and north towards Limavady. The region has a population of some 150,000 and is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Features

It has a distinctive glaciated landscape. The Glenshane Pass, part of the A6 Belfast to Derry road, is in the mountains and has notoriously bad weather in winter. Sawel Mountain is the highest peak in the Sperrins, and the seventh highest in Northern Ireland. Its summit rises to 678 m (2224 ft). Another of the Sperrins, Carntogher (464m), towers over the Glenshane Pass.[4]

See also

External links

  • Landscapes Unlocked - Aerial footage from the BBC Sky High series explaining the physical, social and economic geography of Northern Ireland.

References

  1. ↑ Hoare, Natalie (July 2009) UK Landscapes, The Sperrins, Geographical Magazine
  2. ↑ The Rock Cycle, Schist, Co Tyrone, The Geological Society
  3. ↑ Ulster Place Names - Magherafelt (C. Dunbar)
  4. ↑ "Glenshane Slopes Landscape". Environment and Heritage Service. Retrieved 2008-06-26. 
Slieve Gallion in the snow
Mountains and hills of Ulster
Antrim Hills
Antrim Plateau
Belfast Hills
Croaghgorms
Derryveagh
Inishowen
Mournes
Sperrins
Southwest Donegal
Others
Areas marked † are proposed


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