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Protected Areas

Carrickarade ASSI

Last updated: 5 February 2010

picture of Carrickarade

Site No ASSI 116
Area 17.88 (ha)
Declared Date 30/10/1996
Confirmed Date 13/03/1997
County Antrim
Council(s) Moyle DC
Keywords Earth Science

                             

                                

                                      

                   

The island of Carrickarade and the adjoining mainland represent a section through a volcano which exploded during the Tertiary period 60 million years ago. Volcanic ash and rock debris fill the vent. Later, during a quieter period of volcanic activity, veins of dolerite were intruded into the rocks.
The limestone cliffs contain one exceptional raised sea cave which has the only known example of speleotherm development within the Ulster white limestone.
picture of Cock's foot grassThe cliff tops habitats include maritime grassland, acid heath and chalk grassland. The site is home to two rare snails, the wrinkled snail and the heath snail, and breeding birds including twites, kittiwakes, guillemots and razorbills.


Site Related Documents

Site map (.PDF 761 Kb)Opens in new window., Citation document (.PDF 121 Kb)Opens in new window. and Views about Management document (.PDF 90Kb)Opens in new window..