The Gearagh (a submerged glacial woodland and nature reserve near Macroom)

 The Gearagh

(a submerged glacial woodland and nature reserve) 

The ancient tree stumps of the Gearagh exposed in low water.

The Gearagh area, near Macroom (Co. Cork), was flooded in 1954 to facilitate the building of two hydro-electric dams in Carrigadrohid and Inniscarra, which provide electricity for the nearby city of Cork. The area is now part of the plants' upper reservoir. The development required the flooding of the region; consequently, hundreds of trees were felled and many people were relocated. Many of the trees were centuries old and had grown since the medieval period.^[5] Today only their stumps survive, in flood land, giving the area a ghostly and almost lunar appearance.^[4]Read more of this Wikipedia article here.

I think this guy was listening to me!

Early spring colour.

The Gearagh and the surrounding (higher) countryside.

Looks like an impossible reflection
 with the hillside house so far away

The sun catches this robin on the ground

 

So many ancient tree stumps

A Walk In The Gearagh. April 2021

 The Gearagh 

The Gearagh is a submerged glacial woodland and nature reserve on the R584. As you come from the city on the N22 and are getting close to Macroom, turn left on to the R584. A few minutes later, you'll arrive at your destination, on the left. There is a (small enough) carpark. The area was flooded in the 1950s as part of a hydroelectric scheme that included the Inniscarra dam. That ancient forest, along with farms and houses, was flooded. You'll see tree stumps in the extensive waters. It is an easy walk, a straight line through with a few paths to the sides that will take you deeper in to this fascinating place. Fascinating yes but every now and then you remember you are walking where families had their lives changed for progress, just as has happened, and still happens around the world; Egypt's Aswan dam (built in stages in the 60s and 70s) resulted in thousands of families being resettled is a major example. Pics taken 29th April 2021.

Stumps in the waters

Easy to walk

The R584 runs between the stump-filled waters and cows grazing on the sloping field.

Always a robin!

What's keeping you? He queries.

Be careful. The depth of the water can vary a lot

Summer's coming

On the lookout for a tasty lunch

Big sky. View to the west from the bridge (below)