Sruth in Aghaidh an Aird facts for kids
| Location | County Sligo & County Leitrim, Ireland |
|---|---|
| Type | Plunge |
| Total height | 150 m (490 ft) |
| Number of drops | 2 |
Sruth an Aghaidh an Aird also recently renamed erroneously as The Devils Chimney, is Irelands highest waterfall located on the Dartry Mountains in County Sligo in the northwest of Ireland. Sruth in Aghaidh an Aird is an Irish language name meaning "the stream that flows backwards", ) The waterfall is unusual in having no official Englidh name.
It flows from the mountains' southern side into Glencar Lough. With a height of 150 metres (490 ft), it is higher than Powerscourt Waterfall in Wicklow. The waterfall's name comes from the phenomenon where southerly winds sometimes blow the water backwards up and over the cliff edge. A public hiking trail has been established allowing access close to the base of the falls.
The waterfall is a prominent landmark, visible for many miles and marked the ancient boundary of the tuath of Cairbre Drom Cliabh, now the boundary between County Sligo and County Leitrim.
Etymology
Modern translations have translated literally as “stream against the height”, but this is an incorrect translation of a phrase with an idiomatic meaning. The phrase is used in old Irish texts. The EDIL dictionary includes the entry on the river Jordan "mar do ghabh sruth Iordan . . . a n-aghaidh áird i.e. flowed backwards, up-stream"(Take the stream of the Jordan, that flowed backwards). It is an archaic phrase implyng both height and to flow backwards.
See also
In Spanish: Sruth in Aghaidh an Aird para niños
