The Burren region is located along Ireland’s mid-western coast and stretches across roughly 560 km2 of north Clare and south Galway. It ranges in height from sea level to just over 300m and contains a wealth of natural heritage.
Landscape
The landscape of the Burren has been formed by millions of years of glacial, tectonic, solutional and, just as importantly, human processes.
Geology
Formed some 340 million years ago at the bottom of a warm, shallow sea, the often visibly fossil-rich layers of limestone characterise the Burren.
Flora
When it comes to ecological wealth and diversity, the Burren has few parallels elsewhere in Ireland. In terms of flora the Burren is especially rich containing many rare and sought after species.
Fauna
The fauna of the Burren is a frequently overlooked aspect of the area’s natural heritage but many different species can be found here, some rare and threatened.
Agriculture
Little do many visitors realise it, but the fascinating cultural and natural heritage that attracts them to the Burren is essentially a legacy of this agricultural tradition. Furthermore, the future security of this wonderful legacy very much depends upon the continuation of these traditions.