PJiysical Features. 63 



sometimes precipitous courses over the edge of the escarp- 

 ment ; to the west of this line the rivers find their way 

 over the plaltau that forms the greater part of inland Antrim 

 towards the west. The westerly trend of these rivers, how- 

 ever, is modified by the presence of a ridge stretching from 

 Duiiloy to near Ahoghill in a north and south direction. 

 The presence of this ridge parallel to the main watershed, 

 running north and south, deflects the rivers from their 

 westerly course, giving them a southerly trend till the valley 

 reaches Lough Neagh. The rivei of the Lower liann is the 

 main artery from Lough Neagh to the sea. The Lower Bann 

 has a wide drainage area : from the east it receives the 

 drainage of the greater part of Antrim; on the west the water- 

 shed of its drainage area extends to the Sperrin mountains 

 and the range of hills that form the western limit of the 

 basalt plateau which we have already met with in Antrim. 



In the County of Down the watersheds are harder to 

 determine. One such is well defined; namely, that running 

 from the Eagle Mountain (2,084 feet), it^ the Mourne range, 

 to Slieve Croob, about six miles south of Ballynahinch. 

 On the slopes of Slieve Muck in the Mournes, the river 

 Bann begins its course, and flowing north enters Lough 

 Neagh ; the river Lagan has its source on the slopes of 

 Slieve Croob, and after a winding course enters Belfast 

 Lough. 



Antrim Rivers. 



Having briefly pointed out the watersheds, we may now 

 consider the rivers in detail. Beginning with those on the 

 east slope of the watershed, we have the Glendun river, 

 entering the sea at Cushendun ; the Glenariff river, entering 

 the sea at Red Bay ; the Glenarm river. These rivers, 

 though of little importance on account of the shortness of 

 their courses, embosom in their valleys some of the most 

 charming scenery m the county. The chief river on the 

 western slopes of the main watershed is the Main. This river 

 pursues a southerly course, intercepting on its way numerous 

 tributary streams pursuing a westerly course from the main 



See Map of Belfast and the N. E. Counties; scale, 4 miles to an inch 

 (published by Hartholomew). 



