Sruth in Aghaidh an Aird facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sruth in Aghaidh an Aird |
|
|---|---|
| Stream that Flows Backwards | |
A photo of the waterfall from Glencar Lough
|
|
 Location in island of Ireland
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Infobox_mapframe at line 185: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Location | County Sligo & County Leitrim, Ireland |
| Coordinates | 54°20′52″N 8°23′35″W / 54.347654°N 8.393123°W |
| Type | Plunge |
| Total height | 150 m (490 ft) |
| Number of drops | 2 |
Sruth in Aghaidh an Aird is Ireland's highest waterfall. It is sometimes called The Devil's Chimney, but this is a more recent name. This amazing waterfall is found on the Dartry Mountains in County Sligo, in the northwest of Ireland. The name Sruth in Aghaidh an Aird comes from the Irish language. It means "the stream that flows backwards." This waterfall is special because it does not have an official English name.
The waterfall's water flows from the mountains' southern side into Glencar Lough. It is about 150 metres (490 ft) (nearly 500 feet) tall. This makes it taller than Powerscourt Waterfall in Wicklow. The waterfall gets its unique name from something cool that happens there. Sometimes, strong winds from the south blow the water backwards. The water goes up and over the cliff edge instead of falling down! There is a public path that lets people hike close to the bottom of the falls.
Sruth in Aghaidh an Aird is a very important landmark. You can see it from many miles away. Long ago, it marked the old border of a land area called tuath of Cairbre Drom Cliabh. Today, it marks the border between County Sligo and County Leitrim.
What's in a Name?
The name "Sruth in Aghaidh an Aird" is very old. It means "the stream that flows backwards." Some people might try to translate it word-for-word as "stream against the height." However, this is not the correct meaning. The phrase is an old Irish saying.
Old Irish writings, like the EDIL dictionary, explain this phrase. For example, it was used to describe the Jordan River. It said the river "flowed backwards, up-stream." So, the name of this waterfall means that its water can sometimes flow upwards, against the usual direction.
See also
- In Spanish: Sruth in Aghaidh an Aird para niños
