Killarney National Park Map
They are typically dominated by sessile oak, which favours the acidic soils of the sandstone mountains. Kerry is an expanse of rugged mountainous country. Jaunting cars bring tourists around the park. Lough Leane is approximately 19 square kilometres 4, acres in size and is by far the largest of the three lakes.
Killarney National Park

Cloistered courtyard in Muckross Abbey. Humans have lived in the area since at least the Bronze Ageapproximately 4, Glacier National Park To Great Falls Mt ago.
Archaeologists have found evidence that copper mining took place in the Ross Island area during this period, which suggests that the area was of considerable importance to Bronze Age people. The park has many archaeological features, including a well preserved stone circle at Lissivigeen. This has caused a gradual decline in the diversity of tree species in the park. It was founded in the 7th century CE by St. Finian the Leper and was occupied until the 14th century. The central feature of Muckross Abbey is a central courtyard that contains a huge yew tree surrounded by a vaulted cloister.
The castle was extended in the 17th century. It has been restored and is open to the public. During the 17th and 18th centuries the woods were extensively utilised for local industries including charcoal production, cooperage and tanning. Pressure on the woods intensified in the later part of the 18th century. Approximately 25 tons of oak was needed to produce one ton of cast iron. Replanting and management of the oak forests was promoted at this time.
There was a large-scale felling of oak trees at Ross Island inGlena in around and Tomies in Tomies was then replanted with three-year-old oak and Glena was coppiced.
These activities have increased the relative abundance of oak in the park in the past years. They became very wealthy from copper mines on this land. The Herbert’s financial situation became precarious in the late 19th century, [16] and the Muckross estate was purchased by Lord Ardilaun of the Guinness brewing family in The The Irish authorities looked at international practices in classifying and managing of national parks. A decision was also made to establish other national parks in Ireland.
Despite being interlinked, each lake has a unique ecosystem. The lakes join at the Meeting of the Waters, a popular tourist area. Lough Leane is approximately 19 square kilometres 4, acres in size and is by far the largest of the three lakes. It has become eutrophic as a result of phosphates from agricultural and domestic pollution entering Lough Leane Reedbed, an important habitat on the edge of Lough Leane. This nutrient enrichment has caused several algal blooms in recent years.
The blooms have not yet had a severe effect on the lake’s ecosystem. To prevent further pollution causing a permanent change in the lake’s ecosystem, a review of land use in the catchment area is being carried out. Muckross Lake is the deepest of the three lakes. The presence of limestone causes both of the lakes to be slightly richer in nutrients than the Upper Lake.
There are many caves in the limestone at lake level, created by wave action combined with the dissolution effect of the lakes’ acidic water on the exposed rock. These caves are largest on the northern shore of Muckross Lake. The fast run-off in its catchment area can cause the level of the lake to rise by up to a meter in a few hours during heavy rain.
This is caused by run-off from the upland sandstones and blanket bogs in their catchment areas. There are three main types of woodland in the park: acidophilous oak woodland Quercus petraea-Ilex aquifolium on Devonian sandstone; moss -rich yew woodland Taxus baccata on Carboniferous limestone outcrops; [5] and wet woodland also called carr dominated by alder on low-lying swampy limestone soils on the lake edges.
Rhododendrons affect approximately two-thirds of the oak woodlands. A rhododendron…
Park Maps (pdf)

Muckross Traditional Farms is a working farm project that recreates Irish rural life in the s, prior to electrification. Archaeologists have found evidence that copper mining took place in the Ross Island area during this period, which suggests that the area was of considerable importance to Bronze Age people. Rare species found in the lakes are Arctic char and Killarney shad.