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Earth Science Conservation Review
| Western Mournes Complex - Ghann River Moraines | Down |
| Site number: | 456 | ||
| ESCC: | IS | ||
| Locality Type: | Inland exposure | Status: | TBC |
| Grid Reference: | J170198,J172195,J181220 End(s) of linear site, Not Entered | ||
| Google maps: | 54.11446,-6.21084 | ||
| County: | Down | Council area: | Newry, Mourne & Down District Council |
| Period: | Quaternary | ||
| Stages: | Late Midlandian | ||
| Site Description | |
|---|---|
| Description: | |
The most distal moraines at the exit of the Ghann River valley consist of two dissected, low, subparallel arcs immediately to the west of Rostrevor. They trend northwest to southeast, transverse to the valley axis, and occur in a similar topographical position on the coastal fringe to the moraine fragments east of Rostrevor. A well-marked ridge at the entrance of the Ghann River valley (J170198) trends northwest to southeast and continues westward as an arc across the Moygannon River valley. The 2.5km of the lower valley (J172195-J181220) is characterised by a central, undulating longitudinal ridge (<10m high). The ridge is bounded to the west by a broad (<200m wide) channel which contains the underfit Ghann River, and to the east by a shallower, dry channel. These are meltwater channels, which cut at right angles across the closely spaced frontal moraines of a glacier which retreated northward through the valley. High points on the ridge are aligned with rounded ridges and benches which can be traced upslope to the north along the valley sides. In the west of the upper valley northwest to southeast trending cross-valley benches turn sharply northward along the steep lower slopes of Slieve Roe. In the east of the valley, benches are broader along the gentle lower slopes of Slieve Roosley. | |
| Notes: | |
For site specific information on other sites within the Western Mournes Complex see the following sites: Key Site 455 - Kilbroney River Valley Moraines Key Site 457 - Moygannon River Valley Moraines Key Site 458 - Western Lowlands Drumlins and Moraines For overview information and references on the Western Mournes Complex see the following site: Key Site 450 - Western Mournes Complex - Overview For overview and site specific information on other sand and gravel sites within the Mourne Mountains area see the following sites: Key Site 440 - Mourne Plain Complex - Overview Key Site 447 - Attical Complex, Mourne Mountains - Overview Key Site 448 - Bloody Bridge River Valley Complex, Mourne Mountains - Overview Key Site 449 - Northeast Mournes Complex - Overview Key Site 451 - Annalong Valley For general information and references on the sand and gravel landscapes of N. Ireland, and directions to sites other than those within the Mourne Mountains area, see the following site: Key Site 439 - Introduction to the Sand and Gravel Landscapes of N. Ireland This site is also a Site of Local Nature Conservation Importance. See Key Site 728 - Ghann River Valley Moraines. | |
| Keywords | |
|---|---|
| Geomorph: | recessional moraine |
| Record type: | ESCR report | ||
| Entered by: | E M Porter | ||
| Last updated: | 4 Aug 2004 | ||
| Enlander, I., Dempster, M. & Doughty, P., 2026. Western Mournes Complex - Ghann River Moraines, County Down, site details. [In] Earth Science Conservation Review. https://www.habitas.org.uk/escr/site.php?item=456. Accessed on 2026-11-07. |
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