and a considerable portion is bog and moorland. Errigal
mountain in the north-west attains an elevation of 2466 ft. and commands
from its summit a fine view over a considerable portion of the country.
In its vicinity, the Derryveagh mountains reach 2240 ft. in Slieve
Snaght; Muckish is 2197 ft.; in the south Bluestack reaches 2219 ft.;
and in the Innishowen peninsula between Loughs Swilly and Foyle, another
Slieve Snaght is 2019 ft. in elevation. At the western extremity of the
north coast of Donegal Bay stands Slieve League, whose western flank
consists of a mighty cliff, descending almost sheer to the Atlantic,
exhibiting beautiful variegated colouring, and reaching an extreme
height of 1972 ft. From these details it will appear that the scenery of
the highlands and the sea-coast often attain a character of savage and
romantic grandeur; whereas the eastern and southern portions are
generally less elevated and more fertile, but still possess considerable
beauty. A considerable portion of the surface, however, is occupied by
bogs, and entirely destitute of timber.

With the exception of the tidal river Foyle, which forms the boundary
between this county and Tyrone and Londonderry, the rivers, though
numerous, are of small size. The branches of the Foyle which rise in
Donegal are the Derg, issuing from Lough Derg, and the Finn, rising in
the beautiful little lake of the same name in the highlands, and passing
through some of the best cultivated land in the county. The Foyle,
augmented by their contributions, and by those of several other branches
from the counties Tyrone and Londonderry, proceeds northward,
discharging its waters into the southern extremity of Lough Foyle, at
the city of Londonderry. It is navigable for vessels of large burden to
this place, and thence by lighters of fifty tons as far as Lifford.
Boats of fourteen tons can proceed up the Finn river as far as
Castlefinn. The fine river Erne flows from Lough Erne through the
southern extremity of the county into the southern extremity of Donegal
Bay. Its navigation is prevented by a fall of 12 ft., generally called
the Salmon Leap, in the neighbourhood of Ballyshannon, and by rapids
between Ballyshannon and Belleek, on the confines of Co. Fermanagh. The
Gweebarra, the Owenea, and the Eask are the only other streams of any
note. Lakes are very numerous in Donegal. The most remarkable, and also
the largest, is Lough Derg, comprising within its waters several