Slieve Gallion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Slieve Gallion |
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| Sliabh gCallann | |
Slieve Gallion from the southwest
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 528 m (1,732 ft) |
| Listing | Marilyn |
| Naming | |
| English translation | mountain of the heights |
| Language of name | Irish |
| Geography | |
 Location in Northern Ireland
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| Location | County Londonderry, Northern Ireland |
| OSI/OSNI grid | H8188 |
| Topo map | OSNI Discoverer 13 |
Slieve Gallion is a cool mountain in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Its name comes from the Irish words Sliabh gCallann, meaning "mountain of the heights."
It's the most eastern mountain in the Sperrin Mountains. Slieve Gallion stands tall at 528 meters (1,732 feet). It overlooks the western side of Lough Neagh. The top of its northeastern side has a special station for radio signals. A small road leads up to this point, which is 496 meters (1,627 feet) high.
You can find Slieve Gallion about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) from Moneymore. It's also about 8 kilometers (5 miles) from Cookstown and Magherafelt. The mountain is part of the areas called Desertmartin, Lissan, and Ballinascreen.
Contents
What is Slieve Gallion Made Of?
Slieve Gallion is like a giant, old volcano that has lost its top. It's called a volcanic plug. This means it's made from hard rock that came from inside the Earth. This rock is called igneous rock. You can also find granite on the mountain's southern slopes.
The mountain has steep sides and a flat top. There's a tall mast on the northeastern peak for sending out TV and radio signals.
Plants and Animals on Slieve Gallion
To the west of the mountain, you'll see blanket bog and thick coniferous forests. Most of the trees here are Sitka spruce. You might also spot lodgepole pine trees. Closer to the south, there are oak trees.
Many animals live around Slieve Gallion. You can find the Irish hare, which is a type of mountain hare. Birds like the curlew and the red grouse also make their homes here. If you look near the rivers, you might even see an otter! People think Slieve Gallion is a very beautiful place.
Slieve Gallion's History
Long, long ago, about 10,000 years ago, soft, spongy ground called peat started to form on Slieve Gallion. Scientists have studied old plant bits to learn about the plants that grew here back then. About 7,000 years ago, many more alder trees began to grow.
For hundreds of years, people used to gather on the mountain. They celebrated a special festival called Lughnasadh. This festival marked the end of summer.
In more recent times, more sheep have been grazing on the mountain. Also, more people are enjoying mountain biking and hill walking here. Sometimes, all this activity can cause the ground to wear away, which is called erosion.
Sports and Fun on the Mountain
Slieve Gallion is a great spot for outdoor activities!
Mountain Running
There's a yearly mountain race that starts at the bottom of Inniscarn Forest. Runners race to the top of Slieve Gallion and then back down. This exciting event usually happens in late September or early October. It brings together some of the best runners from Northern Ireland. In 2006, it even hosted a big championship for young mountain runners from Britain and Ireland!
Flying High
If you love to fly, Slieve Gallion is a popular place for hang gliding and Paragliding. It's a good starting point for flying long distances. This is because there aren't many rules about where you can fly in the air around the mountain.
Interesting Facts
In 2019, a wind farm called Crockandun was built on the eastern side of Slieve Gallion. This farm uses wind turbines to make electricity.
There was also talk about a company wanting to open a gold mine on the mountain. However, the local council said no to the project. So, there are no plans for a gold mine on Slieve Gallion right now.
