Cairngorms
The Cairngorms refers to a mountainous region in the Eastern Scottish Highlands. Consisting of a large elevated plateau adorned with low, rounded glacial mountains, this area became Scotland's second national park (see Cairngorms National Park) on 1st September 2003. The Cairngorm plateau includes many of Scotland's most famous mountains, like Ben MacDhui, Cairngorm and Braeriach. The region is drained by the Rivers Dee, Spey, Feshie and Avon.
They were created at the end of the last ice age, when the ice caps that covered most of northern Scotland remained static and formed the rounded summits of the mountains of the area. The many valleys are littered with glacial deposits from the period of glacial retreat. The most famous valley is the Lairig Ghru pass, a gouge through the centre of the mountains - a u-shaped valley, that was extensively used by drovers in the 19th Century hearding their cattle to market in the Lowlands, from their smallholdings in the Highlands.
The Cairngorms are named after Cairn Gorm (Blue Cairn in the Scottish Gaelic language), the most prominent of the hills in the view from Speyside; thus the Cairngorms may be said to be the Blue Hills. This name contrasts with the original Gaelic name for the mountains - Am Monadh Ruadh, meaning the Red Hills.
The area is sparsely populated due to the extreme nature of the climate. Wild arctic plants flourish on the summits of many hills, as do birds such as the Capercaillie and the Ptarmigan.
A rapidly diminishing skiing and winter sports industry is concentrated in the area. A funicular railway opened here in late 2001, amidst some controversy. Supporters of the scheme claimed that it would bring valuable tourist income into the area, whilst opponents argued that such a development was unsuitable for a supposedly protected area.
