Glenmacnass Waterfall (Irish: Gleann Log an Easa) |
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Location | County Wicklow |
Coordinates | 53°03′51″N 6°20′13″W / 53.064223°N 6.33688°WCoordinates: 53°03′51″N 6°20′13″W / 53.064223°N 6.33688°W |
Elevation | 350 ± 10 metres (1,148 ± 33 ft) |
Total height | 80 ± 10 metres (262 ± 33 ft) |
Number of drops | 3 |
The Glenmacnass Waterfall (Irish: Gleann Log an Easa, meaning "The glen of the hollow of the waterfall") is a waterfall on the Glenmacnass River and constitutes the beginning of the Glenmacnass valley. The valley ends near the village of Laragh in County Wicklow and can be easily traversed by the Military Road joining Sally Gap to Laragh.
The river begins high up on the south east quadrant of Mullaghcleevaun mountain, the second tallest of the Wicklow Mountains at 849 metres (2,785 ft), then flows down the surrounding mountains to the waterfall top at 350 ± 10 metres (1,148 ± 33 ft). The waterfall consists of 3 staggered drops down to 270 ± 10 metres (886 ± 33 ft).
It continues through the valley and joins the river Avonmore (Irish: Abhainn Mór, meaning "big river") at Laragh. It is later joined by the river Avonbeg (Irish: Abhainn Beag, meaning "small river") to become the river Avoca and eventually flows into the Irish Sea at the coastal town called Arklow.
The valley was carved out during the last glacial period called the quaternary glaciation or Ice Age, which dates from 2.58 Ma (million years ago) to present. The Military Road joining Sally Gap to Laragh passes through the valley running parallel to the river.
A view from the Old Military Road
Looking into the valley from the top of the waterfall