Ballycroy National Park
| Ballycroy National Park | |||
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| Location: | Ireland | ||
| Next city: | Westport | ||
| Surface: | 117.79 km² | ||
| Founding: | 1998 | ||
| Address: | Ballycroy National Park, Co Mayo Dept. of Environment, Heritage & Local Government, Lagduff More |
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The Ballycroy National Park ( Irish Páirc Náisiúnta Bhaile Chruaich ) in County Mayo in northwest Ireland is one of the largest rain bogs in Europe with 117.79 km² . The national park was established on November 1st, 1998 on the basis of the Fauna-Flora-Habitat Directive and is therefore part of Natura 2000 that aims to preserve biodiversity in Europe.
Creation of the national park
The European Habitats Directive, which was transposed into Irish law in 1997, lists certain habitats and species that Ireland aims to preserve through protected areas. These areas include extensive wetlands such as that of Ballycroy, among others. Ballycroy is one of the largest remaining wetlands in Western Europe.
features
The park is characterized by extensive swamps, slopes and river habitats. The wetlands have one of the largest expanses of peat bog that has survived in Europe. Thus, in the opinion of the European Union, security is of "international importance" because the area offers a so-called ecological niche for various rare living beings and especially plants . The Owenduff River is also preserved, as it is the only river in Western Europe that provides drainage to a relatively intact and extensive swamp system. Many salmon and brown trout live in it .
A visitor center, funded by the Irish government, is located in Ballycroy. The 700 m² building is intended to reinforce the public recognition of the park and its landscape.
Wildlife
The national park offers a habitat for many bird species, e. B. the whooper swan , the dunlin , the sandpiper , the woodcock and the dipper . The birds of prey are by Peregrine , Sperber and Habicht represented, in winter you can also harriers observed. The red grouse and golden plover also breed here. The park is also important for Greenland geese and golden plovers, which are found in large numbers as winter visitors.
Notable species of mammals include otters , mountain hare, and various species of bats , including the mosquito bat . The red fox , badger and pine marten are more common.
Web links
- Ballycroy National Park , official site
- World Database on Protected Areas - Ballycroy National Park (English)
- Ballycroy, County Mayo , Ballycroy National Park on the sides of County Mayo
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Park brochure, German, pdf ( Memento of the original from September 30, 2015 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
