Iveragh Peninsula

The Iveragh Peninsula (Irish place name|Uíbh Ráthach|) is located in County Kerry in Ireland. It is the largest peninsula in southwestern Ireland. A mountain range, the Macgillycuddy's Reeks, lies in the centre of the peninsula. Carrauntoohil, its highest mountain, is also the highest peak in Ireland.

Towns on the peninsula include Killorglin, Cahersiveen, Portmagee, Waterville, Caherdaniel, Sneem and Kenmare.

The Ring of Kerry, a popular tourist trail, circles the coastline, beginning and ending at Killarney, just east of the peninsula.

Valentia Island lies off the northwestern tip of the peninsula. It is connected with the peninsula by a bridge at Portmagee village, but it can also be reached by ferry crossing between Renard Point on the mainland and Knightstown on the island.

The Skellig Islands lie about 12 kilometres off the west coast and are known for their monastic buildings and bird life.

Kerry Geopark is a community initiative on the Iveragh Peninsula which aims to promote geotourism in this area of high geological importance. Some of the interest features are Kenmare Bay (a drowned river valley or ria), signs of past glaciation and volcanic activity and 400-million year old fossilised tetrapod tracks.

ee also

* Dingle Peninsula
* Beara Peninsula

External links

* [http://www.frommers.com/destinations/iveraghpeninsula/ Iveragh Peninsula guide from Frommer's]
* [http://www.kerryholiday.co.uk/ring.html Information about the Ring of Kerry]
* [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sites/index.html?action=SitHTMDetails.asp&sid=672&m=0/ Iveragh Peninsula at Birdlife International]
* [http://www.sccird.com/geopark/index.htm Kerry Geopark]