River Liffey, Dublin, Ireland.
The River Liffey
~ Dublin, Ireland
Through he heart of Dublin runs the River Liffey. “Liffey” means “An Life” in Irish. Connecting to the Liffey is the River Dodder, River Poddle, and River Camac. From the Liffey comes most of Dublin’s water supply as well as most of its water recreational activities. It was first named “An Ruirthech” which meant “the fast runner”. “Liphe” was the name of the plain that it ran through, but was later simply absorbed as the River’s name itself going from “Abhainn na Life” to its anglicized version as the “River Liffey”. The River begins in the Liffey Head Bog that rests between the Kippure and Tonduff in the Wicklow Mountains being fed by main springs and streamlets. It flows approximately 78 miles through Dublin, Wicklow, and Kildare counties until it pours out into the Irish Sea where Dublin Bay is located. Networked from the Liffey is a series of smaller streams, rivers, and Canals – these are known as the Ballylow Brook, Brittas River, Athdown Brook, Shankill River, Woodend Brook, Lemonstown Stream, Kilculen Stream, Pinkeen Stream, Painestown River, Rye Water, Griffeen River, Phoenix Park streams, Glenaulin Stream, Creosote Stream, River Camac, Colman’s Brook, Bradoge River, River Poddle, Stein River, River Dodder, River Tolka, and the King’s River.
River Liffey, Dublin, Ireland
Three hydroelectric reservoirs feed off the Liffey at Poulaphouca, Golden Falls, and Leixlip. The Liffey was the main entranceway into taking of Ireland by the Vikings, used for trade and raids. It is connected to the River Shannon via the Grand Canal and the Royal Canal. Sixty percent of the Liffey’s flow goes for drinking water and utilized by industry, and makes it way back into the Liffey after purification in wastewater treatment plants. The river is also very popular for recreational activities such as fishing, swimming, canoeing, boating, and viewing. The first stone bridge built to cross the Liffey was the “Bridge of Dublin” where the current Fr. Matthew Bridge is now located and was built in 1428 by the Dominicans. It held four arches with numerous buildings such as a bakehouse, an inn, a chapel, and other shops that overall replaced the Dubhghalls wooden bridge that once existed on the same spot. When the 17th century came along, four new bridges were added from 1670-1684 such as the Barrack/Bloody Bridge (Rory O’ More Bridge), Essex or Grattan Bridge, Ormond or O’Donovan Rosssa Bridge, and the Arran bridge. The Oldest was the Mellows or Queens Bridge (1764) along the site of the Arran Bridge that had been destroyed by floods in 1763. The first Iron bridge to be constructed was the Ha’penny Bridge in 1816. The Samuel Beckett Bridge was constructed in 2009 as a suspension bridge with a swivel to allow river traffic through. Along the Northern Bank (west to east) are the Bridgewater, Wolfe Tone, Sarsfield, Ellis, Arran, Inns, Ormond Upper, Ormond Lower, Bachelors Walk, Eden, Custom House, and North Wall Quays. From the Southern bank, (west to east) are the Victoria, Usher’s Island, Usher’s, Merchants, Wood, Essex, Wellington, Crampton, Aston, Burgh, George’s, City, sir John Rogerson’s, and Great Britain Quays.
River Liffey, Dublin, Ireland.
Bibliography/References:
- Byrne, F.J. 1973 “Irish Kings and High Kings”. Dublin, Ireland.
- Phillips, M.; Hamilton, A. 2003 “Project History of Dublin’s River Liffey Bridges: Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers”. Bridge Engineering 156: Issue BE4.
- Wikipedia: The Free Online Encyclopedia. “The River Liffey”. Website visited April 2012.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Liffey.
Jeannie Johnson Tall Sailing Ship & Museum; River Liffey, Dublin, Ireland.
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Part of Leaf's adventure in Alternative Art Districts, Concerts, Dublin, Living Myths and Legends, Music, Special Events, theaters and plays | Tags: acrobatics, Alegria, Allegra, circuses, Cirque du soleil, clowns, Dublin, fire art, fire spinning, Ireland, performance art, stilt walking, theater
Allegria - Cirque du soleil
Allegria – Cirque du soleil
– April 25-29, 2012. Dublin, Ireland * http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/en/shows/alegria/show/about.aspx.
Coming soon to Dublin is the world infamous monumental “Cirque Du Soleil” with their astonishing troupe and show “Alegría”. It’s a mood and a state of mind after which the show is named. Coming from the Spanish term for “jubilation” the troupe will show power and the handing down of it through time with artistic demonstrations of the evolution of ancient monarchies to modern democracies, old age, youth, and the cycles of time. With the King’s fools, minstrels, beggars, old aristocrats, and children making up the show’s universe speckled with clowns, they come again to stun their audiences. I’ve been fortunate to experience this amazing show of acrobats, music, performance, arts, stilt-walking, fire art, juggling, comedy, clowning, and breathe death-defying feats. Mesmerized by the costumes, stage design, arts, illusions, super-human body twisting and endurance … I’ve been addicted to the Cirque since I first saw them in the early 1990′s at their home arena in Quebec. Definitely a not to miss show when they come to town. Unfortunately we don’t have the funds to see this show while it hits Dublin this year, but for those that can afford it, definitely go out for a time of your life. You will not only be amazed and whirl-winded, but tingled to sheer ecstasy. If for some reason we do find a way to go via winning tickets or being gifted with them, we’ll definitely add on to this review with a stunning report. ~ Tom Baurley
Current Mood: 
bouncy
Part of Leaf's adventure in art, artists, Denver, galleries | Tags: Colorado, Denver, events, galleries, Ian Welling, Paddy Charles, Receptions, Trace gallery
Ian Welling and Paddy Charles closing reception (Denver, CO)
Trace Gallery is pleased to present:
Ian Welling and Paddy Charles closing reception
http://pathwaysart.com/trace-gallery
Friday, April 6th, 2012
7pm-11pm.
Please join us for one last look of these amazing artists work.
* Trace Gallery * 3700 Franklin * Denver, CO 80205 *
This is Ian Welling‘s first show in Denver since he returned from San Francisco. Ian Welling is a surrealist artist who draws and creates strictly from the imagination. Largely inspired by altered states of consciousness and the realms of the unreal, he attempts to capture the supernatural elements of the human imagination. While his older works draw from the psychedelic experience, his new work features strong apocalyptic thematic elements.
Ian has shown at galleries in Denver, Chicago, Miami and California.
Influenced by the early surrealists and Dadaists, as well as modern visionary masters and the writings of William S. Burroughs and William Blake, Ian is committed to continue churning out artwork that borders on the absolutely bizarre and esoteric.
Paddy’s art intersects a number of disciplines: pen and ink; the still-life; sumi-e; and screen printing, process (or cmyk) printing and the print industry (in which he has worked and been greatly influenced). The candy-colored, tattoo-outlined still-lifes emerging from this dynamic are curious arrangements of things you recognize and… other things too, presented against austere, unprinted backgrounds to emphasize their icongraphy and abstraction. His work is an exploration of this style.
Born in 1978 and raised as a musician in a Chicago suburb, Paddy earned a BA in philosophy from Loyola University, Chicago before eventually moving to Vermont (2008) where he began making art. He is self-taught.
Trace Gallery is a multimedia art space located at the intersection of post-industrial and urban paradigms in Denver. Trace is curated by Saige of Pathways Art, a long-running group show that showcases a variety of artists who share a passion for finding new ways of understanding and expressing our collective vision. Trace continues this tradition, with more focus on individual artists. In addition to monthly gallery openings, Trace hosts workshops, classes, music, and community events.
Part of Leaf's adventure in Archaeology & History, Australia, Authors, botany, natural science | Tags: 1877, 1938, anatomist, anatomy, Australia, Bricky, orthopaedist, philanthropist, Sir William Colin MacKenzie, surgeon
Sir William Colin MacKenzie ~ 1877-1938: the surgeon, anatomist, philanthropist, orthopaedist
From the Australian National Museum display: ” Colin MacKenzie was a Melbourne surgeon who studied marsupial anatomy in order to understand human anatomy. Like many other scientists, he believed Australian animals would soon become extinct. MacKenzie wanted to start a native animal sanctuary in Canberra to help with his research. It never happened, but he later founded the Healesville Sanctuary …”
“Colin Mackenzie” or “Bricky” was nicknamed as such for his red hair was a man of great repute in Australia especially as a benefactor, museum administrator, anatomist, and director. He was born on March 9, 1877 in Kilmore, Victoria, Australia. He was the youngest of six as son to his Scottish parents John MacKenzie a draper, and his wife Anne nee McKay. He educated at Kilmore State School and on to Scotch College in Melbourne where he graduated with honors in Greek on December 1893. He graduated from Medical school from the University of Melbourne in 1898. He was first-class honors in surgery, women’s diseases, and obstetrics. He studied in Europe in 1903. In 1908 he tackled the extensive epidemic in Australia of people suffering in need of orthopaedic skills. During World War I he spent three years in England at the Royal College of Surgeons assisting Sir Arthur Keith in cataloging specimens of war wounds for the army and helped bring out the new edition of Treve’s Surgical Applied Anatomy. At the same time he continued his studies of comparative anatomy of Australian fauna. MacKenzie dissected dozens of Australian animals to help him understand human anatomy. For example, he thought dissecting and examining the shoulders of a Koala might help him improve techniques for human shoulders in surgery. He became council member of the Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland. By 1918, he returned to Australia and converted his house at 612 St. Kilda Road into a laboratory and museum which he called the Australian Institute of Anatomical Research devoted most of his time researching Australian animals from 1919 until his death in 1938. By 1920 He had 80 acres of bushland at Badger Creek as a field station for his research. The facility was fenced, had a 6-roomed house for a curator, a cottage for visiting scientists, workshops, animal pens, and a staff of assistants. This eventually became the Sir Colin MacKenzie Sanctuary in 1934. His collection of specimens became world famous, and was gifted to the Australian goverment in 1924. He married his assistant Winifred Iris Evelyn in 1928. He was knighted in 1929 and spent a good portion of the remainder of his life in Canberra. There he served as a member of the Medical Board and by 1933 became the second president of the Canberra-based Royal Society of Australia. His health began to decay and he retired in 1937 upon returning to Melbourne with his wife. He died on June 29, 1938 of a cerebral hemorrage at his home in Kew and was cremated.
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Part of Leaf's adventure in American Tribal Style, bellydancing, burlesque, dance, festivals, Music, tribal fusion | Tags: bellydance, Charleville Castle, dancing, entertainment, events, festivals, folklore, Ireland, Music, Offaly, tribal bellydance, tribal fusion, Tullamore, vending
2012 Shake Fest: Charleville Castle, Tullamore, Ireland
Part of Leaf's adventure in Uncategorized
Via Flickr:
The Saturday, March 17, 2012 St. Patrick’s Day Festival and parade in Dublin, Ireland.
www.technogypsie.com/reviews/
Part of Leaf's adventure in art, Dublin, Organizations | Tags: accidents, bicycles, bicycling, bicyclists, Dublin, Ghost bikes, graves, Ireland, memorials, monuments, tragedies
Ghost Bikes of Dublin
* All around Dublin, Ireland (& the world) * http://ghostbikes.org/dublin *
An art project? A found art piece? memorial?
Its a memorial to a lost bicyclist who was hit or killed on the street. They are placed locked to a crash site with a small plaque and painted in white to serve as reminders of the horrors that bicyclists have faced and dealt with on their commutes or pleasure rides in the streets of the world. I came across them for the first time in Dublin, but they are a worldwide phenomena, first appearing in 2003 along the streets of St. Louis, Missouri. Now there are reported to be over 500 of them in over 180 locations around the world. The web site tells all. The site is setup to inform those about what this project is about, how to set up a ghost bike memorial, and the safety concerns with this issue. The Dublin project began in 2009 with the first ghost bike to Zu Zhang Wong organised by the Dublin Cycling Campaign (DCC). They reported that 11 cyclists died in Dublin from 2002-2006, seventy five percent from left hand turning lorries.
Part of Leaf's adventure in Archaeology & History, Dublin | Tags: Blackpitts, Blackpitts Boy School, boys schools, buildings, Dublin, Ireland, Irish history, schools, St Kevs Boy School, St. Kevin's Boys National School
Saint Kevin's Male National School, Dublin, Ireland
St. Kevin’s Male National School *Scholar’s *
* Donovan Lane & Blackpitts * 24 Blackpitts Road * Blackpitts * Dublin * Ireland *
The former location to St. Kevin’s Boys National School. The current St Kevin’s Boys National School, is a all boys school in Dublin, now located in Finglas West, north Dublin, Ireland with over 300 students rangin in age 4 to 12 and as far as I can tell, has no direct relationship to this former school except the name. This former location is now in ghostly ruins, decaying away as part of Dublin’s history. Tales of this old school were once logged on Google cached Dublin.ie forums speaking of cold, dark, and dreary days of a poorly run school with a very bitter staff. Not much resides on the web about the history of this old school. Its location in Blackpitts is built upon grounds where the black death plague victims were buried (not necessarily exactly where the building now sits). This building was built in 1895 by George Coppinger Ashlin, for the St. Kevin’s Male National Schools in County Dublin, Dublin, in the Blackpitts neighborhood. At one point in its history, it was turned into a drinking pub. It appears from my passing by it the other day to be back in ruins. I’ll post more information as I find it, anyone with information about this building please send data to reviews@technogypsie.com. Thanks greatly!
Saint Kevin's Male National School, Dublin, Ireland
Part of Leaf's adventure in Archaeology & History, Dublin, ghost walks | Tags: Archaeology & History, bridges, Canal Keeper Ghost, Dublin, Easter Rising, Ghost of LaTouche Bridge, Ghost of Portobello Bridge, ghosts, graffitti, Grand Canal, haunted Dublin, Irleland, LaTouche Bridge, Portobello, Portobello Bridge, Rathgar, Rathmines
LaTouche Bridge, Rathgar/Rathmines, Dublin, Ireland
LaTouche Bridge
* Bridge R114 * Lower Rathmines Road/ Richmond Street South / Grand Canal, Portabello, Dublin, Ireland *
This bridge was the first intriguing crossing to catch my attention during my life in Dublin. It is a small cross-over bridge (and lock) with Rathmines street above and the Grand Canal below (offshoot from the Libbey). As I was walking over it one evening, I spied a “Troll Below” graffitti stenciled on the sidewalk just above the bridge. My next crossing i peered under, and there was a police boat docked beneath the bridge. Off to the right was a red graffitti painted of Cernunnos or an Antler-God with Ogham script that I have still yet to decipher. But nonetheless, these elements struck a cord in my curiousity enough to photograph and investigate the bridge further. The Bridge was built in 1791 and named after William Digges La Touche (1747-1803), a popular Director of the Grand Canal Company as well as prominent Irish businessman in his time. Steel parts of the bridge was replaced in 2004. It is also nicknamed the Portobello Bridge for it is right under the Portobello school in the Portobello district. The Portobello district of Dublin, just like its counterpart in London, was named after the capture of Porobelo, Colón on Panama’s Caribbean Coast by Admiral Vernon in 1739. This district encompasses the stretch of the Grand Canal from the Robert Emmet Bridge (Clanbrassil Street) to South Richmond Street to Rathmines. In 1861 this bridge experienced a horrible tragedy when Patrick Hardy was driving a horse-drawn bus up the steep incline and one of the horses reared, became uncontrollable, backing the bus through the wooden rails of the bridge, causing the bus, 6 passengers, and the horses to be plunged to their deaths in the deep (20 feet) dark cold waters of the canal lock. The conductor was saved by a passing policeman, but the rest were drowned. One of the passengers was the father of the Gunne brothers who opened the Gaiety Theater, there were two mothers each with a little girl, one of which was the niece of Daniel O’Connell. On the night of the accident’s anniversary, it is reported that a brilliant light is seen to rise from the canal water and turn into a human shape which is known as the ghost of a lock-keeper who drowned himself after being sacked for drunkenness was to blame for the tragedy. Some say this same ghost arose when the horse drawn bus was crossing the bridge, thereby spooking the horses. During the 1916 Easter Rising, the Irish Citizen Army had a group of men seizing a delaying position at this bridge to allow fortifications to be constructed in the city center. The group was led by the non-author James Joyce and made into a military outpost. But once his unit burst in where he worked at Davy’s bar near the bridge, he was sacked. This was also the location for the murder of Sheehy-Skeffington the same year. As members of the British 11th East Surrey Regiment arrest Francis Sheehy-Skeffington here on April 25th with no reason while he was returning to his home in Rathmines. He was taken to the Portobello barracks and held as an enemy sympathizer. Later that evening, he was taken out as a hostage with a raiding party led by Captain J.C. Bowen-Colthurst of the Royal Irish Rifles to the home and shop of Alderman James Kelly at the corner of Camden Street and Harcourt Road, where they bombed the shop with grenades. On their way back to Rathmines, Skeffington was witnessed to two murders committed by Bowen-Colthurst and his party on two unarmed civilians including a 17 year old boy returning from church. Both the former Kelly’s tobcacconist and Sheehy-Skeffington was taken and the following morning shot by a firing party along with two pro-British journalists – Thomas Dixon and Patrick McIntyre who were unlucky enough to have been in Kelly’s shop when it was grenaded. The three were shot in the back and the British authorities kept the killing a secret.
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Part of Leaf's adventure in Alternative Art Districts, art, Australia, Melbourne, modern art, Reviews | Tags: art, artwork, Australia, Melbourne, road trips, roadside art, sculptures, tourist attractions, Victoria
Melbourne Road Side Art
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
One of the memorable facets to Melbourne I remember from my travels is the fantastic and sometimes bizarre roadside art one can find on the highways in and out of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Many of the roads and freeways around this Metropolis compete for attention by the implementation of large-scale artworks and architectural interventions that make roadtrips that much more appealing. Some of these are listed on the Visit Victoria website. These tie in somewhat with the notable Australia’s Big Things art sculptures found throughout the country. Great aspect to Victoria and Melbourne in my view … definitely worth a drive-through outdoor art gallery peek! Rating: 5 stars out of 5.
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impressed
Part of Leaf's adventure in Australia, Canberra | Tags: architectural design, Australia, Australia's Government, Australian Capital Territory, Australian Embassies, Canberra, Embassies, Embassy, government offices, Parliamentary Triangle, parliaments, ParTri, Walter Burley Griffin, Washington DC
The Parliamentary Triangle & Australian Embassies
* Canberra, Australia Capital Territory, Australia *
As Canberra is the capital of Australia, with the Australian Capital Territory the central region for all of Australia’s government, it is also home to Australia’s Parliaments, Embassies, and Governmental offices. Most countries in allegiance with Australia have their embassies represented here. In the heart of this governmental sector is what is called the “Parliamentary Triangle” or the “ParTri” – the ceremonial precinct of Canberra. The triangle is formed by the Commonwealth, the Kings, and Constitution Avenues. Architecture and buildings within the triangle align in style to coordinate and complement the triangle for the visual effect and to create national significance making it a popular hotspot for tourists similar to that which one can find in Washington, D.C. The triangle was designed and planned for in Walter Burley Griffin’s original design for manifesting Canberra. The triangle is bordered at each point by the Parliament, the Defence Headquarters, and City Hill. He constructed it around two axes converging on the center with a land axis connecting Mount Ainslie, Capital Hill, Red Hill, and off towards Mount Bimberi. Water axis runs at right angles to the land axis along the length of Lake Burley Griffin whose southern shore bisects the Trinagle forming a smaller triangle known as the Parliamentary Zone which contains all the the significant buildings located in the Triangle. The streets in this triangle are lined with large deciduous trees and buildings inset with grassed parkland creating an open feel and convenience between offices. The Parliament House and the The Old Parliament House are the most significant features within it. Other contributing buildings are the National Library, the National Science and Technology Center, Commonwealth Park, Kings Park, Department of the Treasury, John Gorton Building, Department of Finance, Department of Environment and Water Resources, the National Rose Garden, and the Aborigine Tent Embassy. Canberra and Washington D.C. share design similarities as both consist of triangles that line up the House of Government with other monuments and landmarks. Within this area on the outskirts of the Triangle are various countrie’s Embassies.
The New Parliament House
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Old Parliament House or Museum of Australian Democracy
* Canberra, Australia Capital Territory, Australia *
Within Canberra lies several Parliaments and Embassies, representing many cultures and governments. One of the Parliaments which is no longer used for law making as it was the “provisional” parliament house which was base operations for Australia’s Parliament from 1927 until 1988 when it was moved to its permament location atop Capital Hill. It began as a temporary location for law making while the new Parliament house was being constructed in 1927. Today it serves as a premiere location for concerts, lectures, and exhibitions. It was also used by the Executive Agency of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in as recent as 2008. Since 2009 it has been called the “Museum of Australian Democracy”.Its design was created by John Smith Murdoch including gardens, furnishings, and decor in simplified or “stripped” classical style with no typical legislative deco elements like columns, entablatures, or pediments. Made of local Canberra clay brick with timber and lightweight white concrete floors. Originally oulined in a “H-shape”, it is now a large rectangle due to various extensions added to it during the years with a small rear projection. It has four courtyards with colonnades and some light wells with verandas. It’s center boasts the “King’s Hall” named after King George V whose statue is located within. Adjacent to the Hall are the chambers of the House of Representatives, the Senate, and at the rear the Parliamentary Library and dining rooms. Remainder of the building consisted of offices and meeting rooms.
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New South Wales
Australia
One of my favorite regions of Australia, the NSW, or “New South Wales” is located along the southeastern edge of Australia, just north of Victoria and south of Queensland. It totally surrounds the Australian Capital Territory and is Australia’s most populated state (1/3 of Australia’s population) with those who call themselves the “New South Welsh” or the “New South Welshmen”. It’s capital is Sydney. Founded in 1788 it was formed as a Federation in 1901 and originally became the bulk of Australia’s mainland encompassing historic Van Diemen’s lands (Tasmania), Lord Howe Island, and Norfolk Island as well. New South Wales even for a time held claim and custody of New Zealand when Britain annexed it in 1840, but the 19th century later separated these areas from NSW to form the British colonies of Tasmania, South Australia, Victoria, and Queensland.
The landmass of Australia that became to be known as New South Wales was first inhabited by the Australian Aborigines roughly 40-50,000 years ago. New South Wales was first discovered by Captain James Cook in 1770 during his explorations along Australia’s east coast. He named the area “New Wales” originally, then re-naming it to “New South Wales” during his survey. When the British decided to come and settle Australia in 1788, it was here in “New South Wales” where they established the “First Fleet” or the first penal colony led by Captain Arthur Phillip until 1792. The entire state was a penal colony in its origins. This led to much upheaval and disruptions in colonization when things got out of control. Governor William Bligh took command of the region in 1792 during a time of unrest and anarchy until 1809 when Britain replaced him with Lieutenant Colonel Lachlan Macquarie. Macquarie set out numerous projects to build order and community, including the construction of roads, churches, public buildings, communiies, wharves, and city structures. He also set out numerous explorers to map out the land from Sydney and to construct a well thought out street layout for Sydney. By 1825 Tasmania was separated from NSW as Van Diemen’s Land, 1836 South Australia was made its own State, 1841 New Zealand its own country, 1851 Victoria its own State, and 1859 Queensland its own state. Charles Darwin came to the region in 1836 and wrote much about NSW in “The Voyage of the Beagle” where he had mixed reactions about the State, speculations about formations of its valleys, the aboriginal populations, the penal colony, and the viable future of Australia. His thoughts and words were considered tremendously amongst his European coherts, at the same time during which in the 19th century the movement towards federation of the Australian colonies became a potential future. New South Wales was trying to become a free trade state causing turmoil with other leading colony states such as Victoria formulating friction. After World War I, farmers became discontented with the fixed prices paid by the authorities resulting in the formation of the “Country Party” in 1919. Political and class conflicts took place in 1929 seeing great instability during the Great Depression. Mass unemployment and collapse of the commodity prices destroyed the economy. By World War II, many differences came to surface between Australian states, especially with the NSW, mostly focused around federation and economic developments. The War however, brought in industrial development, a war economy, and jobs. By the 1960′s, the New England region of the state began a secessionist movement but was defeated even though its outcome were several referendums. The NSW Constitution and form of Government has stayed consistent since 1856 even though became amended numerous times since the referendums, and 1901 saw its official stamp as a state of the Commonwealth of Australia. New South Wales is most popular for its tourism, outdoor recreation, especially in the coastal regions, as well as for the production of seafood, beef, dairy, fruit, timber, hay, fruits, legumes, lucerne, maize, nuts, wheat, oats, oilseeds, poultry, rice, oysters, wool, coal, and sugar cane. It is also the only center for winter sports in all of Australia, with its premiere ski resort on Mt. Kosciuszko. Outside of the Snowy Mountains with its alpine climates, most of NSW is either arid or semi arid in nature with the eastern coasts having a temperate climate. There are more than 780 National Parks in New South Wales which makes up close to 10% of the State’s area covering various terrains from deserts, bush, rainforests, plains, and mountains. Much of it is also coastal scrublands.
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