South and west of the city of Killarney in Co. Kerry is a vast expanse of rugged mountainous terrain. These include the McGillycuddy’s Reeks, the highest mountain range in Ireland, which rises over 1,000 meters. At the foot of these mountains nestle the world-famous lakes of Killarney. Here, where the mountains sweep down to the shores of the lake, their lower slopes covered with forests lies the 10,236 hectare (26,000 acres), Killarney National Park . The combination of mountains, lakes, forests, and waterfalls under ever-changing skies gives the area a special scenic beauty.
