1A2 Geography
21st April, 2015
Homework:
• A quick reminder…
• Draw a diagram of the underground features in a
karst area and explain how these are formed.
• Revise for next Monday’s exam.
Objectives:
• During this afternoon’s lesson, we will:
1) Review the formation of subterranean landforms in
a limestone/karst region.
2) Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of
tourism in the Burren region.
• “Often conflict may arise between different interests as to how
landscapes are to be used”
– Junior Certificate Geography Syllabus.
During this morning’s lesson…
• We learned about the creation of underground
landforms in karst regions.
• With your partner, briefly explain how each of the
following are created:
Swallow
Hole
Caves
Cavern
Stalagmite
Pillar
(NOT AN
UNDERGROUND LANDFORM)
Stalactite
The Burren
• In which Irish county is
this region located?
• What is the dominant
rock type found in the
Burren?
• How was this formed?
Tourism in the Burren
• This is a contentious issue.
• Here we will explore reasons why some support
tourism in the Burren region while others are opposed
to it.
Tourism in the Burren: Advantages
1. Employment:
• The development of this industry would create both
permanent and seasonal jobs for the locals in the
hospitality industry – hotels, B&Bs, restaurants and pubs.
2. Creation of business
• There would also be spin-off benefits for shops, coach
owners and craftspeople.
3. A reduction in numbers leaving the area.
• The creation of business and jobs might also lead to a
decline in out-migration – a significant problem in rural
areas.
Tourism in the Burren: Advantages
4. Improved infrastructure
• As income is brought into the region, infrastructural
networks (roads, etc.) and services (recreational
facilities) will be improved.
• Improvements in the provision of services and
infrastructural networks will significantly benefit
tourists and the local population.
Tourism in the Burren: Disadvantages
1. Pollution
• Increased pollution can cause damage to the
limestone rock. Noise pollution can also bring about
a change in the quiet, unspoilt nature of the region.
2. Visitor Centre
• A plan to build a visitor centre that would cater to
60,000 visitors per year was abandoned because it
was believed that it would adversely affect the region.
• How might a visitor centre do this?
Tourism in the Burren: Disadvantages
3. Destruction of scenic beauty
• The construction of new buildings, widening of
infrastructural networks, and the increase in services
might spoil the region’s scenic beauty. (Such
activities would also adversely affect the Burren’s
unique flora, fauna, and archaeological remains.)
4. Walkers
• Large numbers of people walking through the Burren
region annually could potentially damage plant and
animal life, as well as sites of historical importance.