Slieve Binnian facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Slieve Binnian |
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| Sliabh Binneáin | |
Slieve Binnian with a light dusting of snow
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 746 m (2,448 ft) |
| Prominence | 349 m (1,145 ft) |
| Listing | Marilyn, Hewitt |
| Geography | |
| Location | County Down, Northern Ireland |
| Parent range | Mourne Mountains |
| OSI/OSNI grid | J320234 |
| Topo map | OSNI Landranger 29, OSNI Outdoor Pursuits map Mourne Country |
Slieve Binnian is a famous mountain in the Mourne Mountains range. You can find it in County Down, Northern Ireland. Its name comes from the Irish Sliabh Binneáin, which means "mountain of the little peak."
This mountain stands tall as the third highest in Northern Ireland. It reaches about 747 meters (2,451 feet) into the sky. The very top of Slieve Binnian is wide and flat. It has cool rocky towers called tors at both its north and south ends. In between these tors, you'll see amazing granite towers known as the Back Castles.
Slieve Binnian is located near some interesting places. To its east is the Annalong Valley, and to its west is the Silent Valley Reservoir. A famous stone structure, the Mourne Wall, also crosses over this mountain.
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Exploring Slieve Binnian
When you visit Slieve Binnian, there are a few cool spots to discover.
Old Quarry and Village Ruins
On the eastern side of the mountain, you can find Douglas Crag. This used to be a quarry, a place where rocks were dug out of the ground. It overlooks a forest called Annalong Wood.
Further down on the southeastern slopes, you might see what looks like an old, abandoned village. It's thought to be where quarry workers once lived. You can still see the ruins of rock huts scattered around. The area is also full of rocks that were partly dug out but never fully removed. It's like stepping back in time to see how people lived and worked long ago.
The Amazing Binnian Tunnel
One of the most impressive hidden features of Slieve Binnian is the Binnian Tunnel. This long tunnel was built right underneath the mountain!
Why was the tunnel built?
The Binnian Tunnel was created to move water. It carries water from the Annalong Valley all the way to the Silent Valley Reservoir. This helps make sure people have enough clean water.
How was the tunnel built?
Building this tunnel was a huge project. It's about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) long! Construction started in 1947 and finished around 1950 or 1951. About 150 workers were involved. They split into two teams, each starting from opposite ends of the mountain. They dug towards each other, meeting deep inside the mountain.
A Perfect Meeting Point
The engineers and workers had to be incredibly precise. They measured their positions very carefully as they dug. When the two teams finally met, nearly 800 meters (2,600 feet) under the mountain's surface, they were almost perfectly aligned! They were only two inches (about 5 centimeters) off course. This shows amazing skill and planning!
