of Ireland, in the province
of Ulster, bounded N. and W. by the Atlantic Ocean, E. by Lough Foyle
and the counties Londonderry and Tyrone, and S. by Donegal Bay and the
counties Fermanagh and Leitrim. The area is 1,197,153 acres, or about
1871 sq. m., the county being the largest in Ireland after Cork and
Mayo. This portion of the country possesses little natural wealth; its
physical characteristics are against easy communications, and although
its northern coast affords one or two good natural harbours, there is no
commercial inducement to take advantage of them. The fine scenery and
other natural attractions of Donegal thus remained practically unknown
until late in the 19th century, but an effort was then made by Lord
George Hill to introduce wealth from without into the county, and to
develop its resources in this, almost the only possible direction. The
county possesses a large extent of sea-coast indented by numerous
inlets. Ballyshannon harbour, the most southern of these, is small, and
has a bar at its mouth, as has Donegal harbour farther north. Killybegs
harbour is well sheltered, and capable of receiving large vessels.
These, with Bruckles or M'Swiney's Bay, and Teelin harbour, suitable for
small vessels, are arms of the fine inlet of Donegal Bay. The western
shore is beautified by the indentations of Loughros Beg, Gweebarra,
Trawenagh and Inishfree Bays. On the north is Sheephaven, within which
is Dunfanaghy Bay, where the largest ships may lie in safety, as they
may also in Mulroy Bay and Lough Swilly farther east. Lough Foyle, which
divides Donegal from Londonderry, is a noble sheet of water, but is
shallow and in part dry at ebb tide, contracted at its entrance, and
encumbered with shoals. A few miles west of Malin Head, the most
northerly point of the mainland of Ireland, the varied and extensive
Lough Swilly runs far into the interior. From these two loughs much land
has been reclaimed. Numerous islands and rocks stud the coast. The
largest island is North Aran, about 15 m. in circumference, with a lofty
hill in its centre, and a gradual declivity down to the sea. On the
northern coast are Tory Island, and, farther east, Inishtrahull, the
_ultima Thule_ of Ireland. The inhabitants of these islands obtain a
precarious livelihood by fishing, kelp-burning and rude husbandry, but
are often reduced to extreme destitution.

Mountains and irregular groups of highlands occupy the whole interior of
the county,