6 CASE STUDY A karst landscape: the Burren, Co. Clare
The limestone of the Burren was formed 300 million years ago under the sea. The Burren is now a region of exposed limestone. As we have already seen, chemical weathering in the Burren has resulted in a unique landscape in Ireland.
The Burren is a major tourist attraction for many people with different interests. This provides employment for many people in the tertiary sector. We will now look at the advantages and disadvantages of tourism in the Burren:
Limestone Shales
National park
Swallow hole
Galway Bay
Ballyvaughan Pollnagollum
Slieve Elva Lisdoonvarna Co. Clare Mullaghmore Corofin ) Figure 6.14 Location of the Burren Advantages of tourism
• Provides employment in the area for local people
• Reduces migration from the area • Brings income to the region and therefore improves services and infrastructure
• Creates spin-off businesses which benefit each other, e.g. restaurants and shops
A B Disadvantages of tourism
• Increased pollution can cause damage to the limestone
• New buildings and increased services can destroy the scenic beauty of the region
• In the Burren there was conflict over plans to build a visitor centre
• Walkers can cause damage to the rare flora (plants) and fauna (animals) of the region
C Aillwee Cave
D
: Figure 6.15 Some of the things that bring tourists to the Burren: A Wildflowers B Potholing
C Hiking D Ancient monuments
PORTFOLIO ACT VITY 6.1
Go to page 24 of your Portfolio and write a letter to your Principal outlining the reasons both for and against a school visit to the Burren.
95
Weathering and Mass Movement: The changing face of the Earth
