description Burren Overview
The Burren is a expansive glaciated karst landscape located in northwest County Clare, Ireland. The region is characterized by its vast, exposed limestone pavements featuring deep crevices known as grykes, which were formed by glacial activity. Despite its rocky terrain, the Burren supports a diverse ecosystem where Arctic, Alpine, and Mediterranean plant species grow side-by-side, making it a significant area for botany and archaeology.
help Burren FAQ
Where is the Burren and what does its name mean?
The Burren is a glaciated karst region in northwest County Clare, Ireland. Its name comes from the Irish word 'Boireann', meaning 'great rock' or 'rocky place', a reference to its vast exposed limestone pavements.
Why do Arctic and Mediterranean plants grow together in the Burren?
The limestone terrain and mild, humid oceanic climate create unusual microclimates where arctic-alpine species survive alongside Mediterranean ones. Spring gentians can flower as early as April, and the region is famous for its orchids, earning it the nickname 'the fertile rock'.
What is Poulnabrone Dolmen?
Poulnabrone is a Neolithic portal tomb standing on the Burren's limestone pavement, dating back roughly 5,000 years. Excavations in the late 1980s uncovered the remains of more than 20 individuals buried at the site.
What are clints and grykes in the Burren?
They are the features of the Burren's limestone pavement: clints are the flat exposed slabs, and grykes are the deep fissures separating them. Glacial scouring stripped away the soil, and rainwater gradually dissolved the cracks that characterize the landscape today.
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