Slieve Mish Mountains
Encyclopedia
The Slieve Mish Mountains (Sliabh Mis in Irish
) are a mountain range found in County Kerry
in the Ireland
. Overlooking Tralee Bay
on the northern side and Dingle Bay
on the south, they extend for approximately 19 km from east to west. They run from the mainland just south of Tralee along the centre of the neck of the Dingle Peninsula
, before ending in a series of low foothills and deep river valleys which separate them from the Mountains of the central Dingle Peninsula
further to the west. The mountain range is relatively narrow, extending only about 7 km from north to south. The mountains form a high ridge of sandstone
which was deeply incised by glacier
s in the last ice age
, leaving behind U-shaped valley
s and corrie
lakes. Dozens of peaks are to be found here, only a few of them named: Glanbrack Mountain, 664 m; Baurtregaum
(Barr Trí gCom), 851 m high and the tallest peak in the range; Gearhane (An Géarán), 792 m; Caherconree
(Cathair Conraoi), 835 m.
"Sliabh Mish" is named after a mythological Celtic princess who was famed for being cruel.
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
) are a mountain range found in County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
in the Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. Overlooking Tralee Bay
Tralee Bay
Tralee Bay is located in on the west coast of County Kerry, Ireland. It is situated between Kerry Head on the north side and the Maharees on the west and extends eastwards as far as the bridge at Blennerville. Several small rivers feed into the bay through the town of Tralee...
on the northern side and Dingle Bay
Dingle Bay
Dingle Bay is a bay located in County Kerry, western Ireland. The bay runs approximately from northeast to southwest into the Atlantic Ocean and is approximately wide at the head, and wide at the entrance. It is flanked on the north by the Dingle Peninsula, and on the south by the Iveragh...
on the south, they extend for approximately 19 km from east to west. They run from the mainland just south of Tralee along the centre of the neck of the Dingle Peninsula
Dingle Peninsula
The Dingle Peninsula is the northernmost of the major peninsulae in County Kerry. Its ends beyond the town of Dingle at Dunmore Head, the westernmost point of Ireland.-Name:...
, before ending in a series of low foothills and deep river valleys which separate them from the Mountains of the central Dingle Peninsula
Mountains of the Dingle Peninsula
The Mountains of the Dingle Peninsula are grouped into two major unnamed mountain ranges, one running along the centre of the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, in Ireland and the other found at its extreme western tip...
further to the west. The mountain range is relatively narrow, extending only about 7 km from north to south. The mountains form a high ridge of sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
which was deeply incised by glacier
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
s in the last ice age
Ice age
An ice age or, more precisely, glacial age, is a generic geological period of long-term reduction in the temperature of the Earth's surface and atmosphere, resulting in the presence or expansion of continental ice sheets, polar ice sheets and alpine glaciers...
, leaving behind U-shaped valley
U-shaped valley
A U-shaped valley also known as a glacial trough is one formed by the process of glaciation. It has a characteristic U-shape, with steep, straight sides, and a flat bottom. Glaciated valleys are formed when a glacier travels across and down a slope, carving the valley by the action of scouring...
s and corrie
Cirque
Cirque may refer to:* Cirque, a geological formation* Makhtesh, an erosional landform found in the Negev desert of Israel and Sinai of Egypt*Cirque , an album by Biosphere* Cirque Corporation, a company that makes touchpads...
lakes. Dozens of peaks are to be found here, only a few of them named: Glanbrack Mountain, 664 m; Baurtregaum
Baurtregaum
Baurtregaum or Bartregaum is a 851 m mountain peak in County Kerry, Republic of Ireland. It is the highest of the Slieve Mish Mountains and the 17th highest peak in Ireland....
(Barr Trí gCom), 851 m high and the tallest peak in the range; Gearhane (An Géarán), 792 m; Caherconree
Caherconree
Caherconree is a mountain peak on the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, Republic of Ireland. At 835 m , it is the second-highest peak of the Slieve Mish Mountains and the 26th highest in Ireland.-Geography:...
(Cathair Conraoi), 835 m.
"Sliabh Mish" is named after a mythological Celtic princess who was famed for being cruel.