Nature of Ireland - national parks and reserves for active recreation

Ireland is located on the island surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the Irish and Celtic seas. The coast of Ireland is one of the most picturesque in the world due to spectacular rocky shores and emerald valleys. Rocky coasts change for a flat terrain in the depths of the country, where several large national parks are under the protection of the state. Ireland has rather mild winters. Summer is pretty cool, but it's perfectly suitable for ecotourism, which is in high demand in the country. One of the most popular places for tourism is the park Ballycroy. Travelers can see the legendary heathland of Ireland there, as well as peat bogs. Tourists get acquainted with the fauna of the park. As far back as the 16th century, the Bangor trail was laid over its lands. That was a way, with which the Irish began their way of emigration to the USA.

Burren National Park was created to protect limestone rocks. It is built of limestone and has a very scarce plant world. The modern landscape of these lands was formed during the last icing of the planet. One can find alpine plants that are adjacent to the subtropical climate. Many sprigs make their way through the cracks in the rocks. That's why the landscape looks fascinating. The most northern national park of Ireland is Glenveagh located off the coast of the Gulf of Donegal in the county of the same name. The territory is occupied mainly by forests, valleys, and picturesque lakes. Reindeer live in the park; animals can often be found near the lakes. The valleys are covered with a dense vegetation of beautiful emerald color. The main attraction of the park is Glenveagh Castle built in the 19th century.

The largest national park in Ireland is the land located in the Wicklow Mountains in the homonymous county. The highest peak of the chain - Lugnaquilla - is about 900 meters above sea level. The park is very popular not only among tourists but also among locals. It is located near Dublin. Every weekend, residents of the country's capital go there to enjoy the picturesque landscapes and feel the unity with nature. The park has wide opportunities for fans of active recreation. You can go fishing to local lakes or rivers, kayak on mountain streams or just make a hike up the mountain. There is the monastery of Glendalough in the park, which was built in the 6th century. Near the castle, there are two lakes. The place will be an excellent option for walking. Another attraction of the park is the Powerscourt waterfall, which is the highest in Ireland. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Killarney National Park is located on the shores of the Killarney Lakes in the county of Kerry. The park was founded in 1932. Its territory is covered with heathlands, forests, and mountains. Ancient oaks, whose average age exceeds 200 years, grow on the shores of the largest lake, the Lower. You can meet many unique plants in Killarney, one of which is the strawberry tree, which is almost impossible to meet outside the county. Other attractions of the park are the rarest Killarney fern and St. Patrick's cabbage. The carnivorous plant, Grandiflora pinguicula, grows on bogs. It feeds on local insects. More than 130 species of different birds set their nests in the trees. Many animals, such as wolves, were exterminated in the 19th century.

Another incredibly interesting place is Connemara National Park located in Galway County. The territory of the park is covered with forests and heathland. Any rural activity is illegal there. Unlike most other landscapes of Ireland, the slopes of Connemara are not emerald, but of a reddish hue. This is explained by a large number of plants with red flowers. In addition to its rich world of flora, the park is known for its megaliths or structures of stone blocks created by prehistoric people several thousand years ago. The feature of the park is Connemara horses. These beautiful and graceful animals are the biggest ponies in the world.