Sperrins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Sperrins |
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| Na Speiríní (Irish) Sperrin Muntains (Ulster-Scots) |
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Sawel Mountain, the highest point of the Sperrins
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| 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 |
| Range coordinates | 54°48′00″N 7°04′59″W / 54.8°N 7.083°W |
| Geology | |
| Orogeny | Caledonian orogeny |
| Type of rock | Schist, quartzite, granite, basalt, rhyolite |
The Sperrins or Sperrin Mountains are a range of mountains in Northern Ireland. They are one of the largest areas of high land in Northern Ireland. The name Sperrín comes from an Irish word meaning "little pinnacle."
This mountain range stretches from Strabane in the west to Slieve Gallion in Desertmartin in the east. It also goes north towards Limavady. The Sperrins are found in two counties: Tyrone and Londonderry. About 150,000 people live in this area. It is also known as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. This means it's a special place with amazing scenery.
Exploring the Sperrins
The Sperrins have a unique landscape. It was shaped by huge sheets of ice, called glaciers, a very long time ago. This is why it's called a glaciated landscape.
The Glenshane Pass is a road that goes through the mountains. It's part of the main road between Belfast and Derry. In winter, the weather here can be very bad with lots of snow and ice.
Sawel Mountain is the tallest peak in the Sperrins. It rises to 678 meters (about 2,224 feet) high. It is also the seventh highest mountain in all of Northern Ireland. Another important mountain is Carntogher, which is 464 meters high. It stands tall over the Glenshane Pass.
Rocks and Wildlife
The Sperrins mountains are mostly made of very old rocks. These rocks are called Precambrian metamorphic rocks. They were changed by heat and pressure deep underground. There are also some younger rocks from the Ordovician period. These are igneous rocks, which means they formed from cooled lava or magma.
The mountains are not very crowded with people. This makes them a great home for many different animals and birds. You can often see Red foxes, Sika Deer, Pine Martens, and Red Squirrels here.
Birds like Peregrine Falcons, Buzzards, and Sparrowhawks fly high above the peaks. Sometimes, Golden Eagles visit from a nearby group in Donegal. Even though they have been seen, they don't live and breed in the Sperrins yet. The mountains are also one of the last places in Northern Ireland where you can find Red Grouse.
Tallest Mountains in the Sperrins
Here is a list of some of the highest mountains in the Sperrins:
| Rank | Name | Irish name | Height | Prominence |
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| 1 | Sawel Mountain | Samhail Phite Méabha | 678 m (2,224 ft) | 657 m (2,156 ft) |
| 2 | Mullaghclogha | Mullach Clocha ("summit of the stone") | 635 m (2,083 ft) | 207 m (679 ft) |
| 3 | Mullaghaneany | Mullach an Ionaidh ("summit of the wonder") | 627 m (2,057 ft) | 302 m (991 ft) |
| 4 | Meenard | Mín Ard ("high mountain pasture") | 620 m (2,030 ft) | 85 m (279 ft) |
| 5 | Dart Mountain | An Dairt ("the lump") | 619 m (2,031 ft) | 89 m (292 ft) |
| 6 | Mullaghasturrakeen | Mullach an Starraicín ("summit of the steeple") | 581 m (1,906 ft) | 46 m (151 ft) |
| 7 | Mullaghclogher | Mullach Clochair ("summit of the stony patch") | 572 m (1,877 ft) | 127 m (417 ft) |
| 8 | Oughtmore | Ucht Mór ("big mountain breast") | 569 m (1,867 ft) | 104 m (341 ft) |
| 9 | Spelhoagh | Speilg Chuach ("cuckoo rock") | 568 m (1,864 ft) | 20 m (66 ft) |
| 10 | Mullaghdoo | Mullach Dubh ("black summit") | 568 m (1,864 ft) | 20 m (66 ft) |
| 11 | Carnanelly | Carnán Aichle ("little cairn of the lookout") | 562 m (1,844 ft) | 307 m (1,007 ft) |
| 12 | Mullaghmore | Mullach Mór ("big summit") | 550 m (1,800 ft) | 235 m (771 ft) |
| 13 | Mullaghcarn | Mullach Cairn ("summit of the cairn") | 542 m (1,778 ft) | 377 m (1,237 ft) |
| 14 | White Mountain | Sliabh Bán ("white mountain") | 537 m (1,762 ft) | 42 m (138 ft) |
| 15 | Slieve Gallion | Sliabh gCallann ("mountain of the heights") | 528 m (1,732 ft) | 333 m (1,093 ft) |
| 16 | Crockbrack | Cnoc Breac ("speckled hill") | 526 m (1,726 ft) | 151 m (495 ft) |
| 17 | Mullaghcarbatagh | Mullach Carbadach ("boulder-strewn summit") | 517 m (1,696 ft) | 32 m (105 ft) |
