A hip replacement is a surgical procedure to replace your hip joint with an artificial version. It provides a long-term solution for worn or damaged hip joints caused by injury or disease, such as osteoarthritis, which can cause severe pain and loss of mobility.
The hip joint is a ball-and-socket joint. The operation replaces both the natural socket and the rounded ball at the top of the thigh bone with artificial parts.These parts replicate the natural motion of the hip joint.
At least 4500 hip replacements are carried out each year in Ireland, usually on adults aged over 65. Women are more likely to need a hip replacement than men.
The outlook for a hip replacement is generally considered to be good. It is a routine operation that offers an end to joint pain, increased mobility and a better quality of life. Hip replacements currently last about 20-30 years.
However, it is a major operation with a fairly long recovery period. Associated problems include wear and tear of the prosthesis in people who are more active, and the device dislocating or loosening.
The purpose of a new hip joint is to:
- relieve pain,
- improve the function of your hip,
- improve your ability to move around, and
- improve your quality of life.
Hip replacement is the most effective treatment for a hip joint that causes pain and cannot function properly. The most common reasons for surgery are:
- Osteoarthritis. This is the most common form of arthritis. It occurs when connecting tissue between the joint is damaged, causing bones to rub together painfully.
- Rheumatoid arthritis. This is caused by the immune system attacking the lining of the joint, resulting in pain and stiffness.
- Septic arthritis. This form of arthritis occurs when the joint becomes infected.
- Fracture of the neck of the thigh bone (femur). This causes a loss of blood supply to the rounded head of the bone and may also lead to crumbling of the bone (avascular necrosis).
- Paget's disease of bone. This affects bone growth and can make bones weak and deformed.
- Bone tumours.
- Other joint injuries.
Hip replacements are also sometimes needed in:
- Late cases of developmental dysplasia of the hip, a condition that prevents the ball and socket hip joint from developing properly. If left untreated, it can cause permanent deformity and walking problems.
- Hip joint fractures caused by osteoporosis, which causes the bones to become thin and weak. Certain cells within the bone are no longer able to break down old bone and replace it with strong, healthy bone.
Do I need a hip replacement?
Only you can make this decision. You may want to consider the following:
- Is the pain so severe that it is interfering with your quality of life, including sleep?
- Have medications and other treatments not worked or do they cause severe side effects?
- Are everyday tasks difficult or impossible?
- Are you feeling depressed as a result of pain and lack of mobility?
- Are you unable to work or have a normal social life?
Alternatives to surgery
There are no surgical alternatives to hip replacement, but a variety of medications may help:
- Painkillers, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), if your hip joint is also inflamed.
- Steroid injections can help in some cases, although their results are unpredictable in the hip so not really recommended.
- Pain-relieving creams, gels and rubs are available over the counter or on prescription. It is not known how these compare with more conventional ways of taking painkillers.
- Disease-modifying medications - these drugs alter the working of the immune system to block the underlying processes involved in certain forms of inflammatory arthritis.
Also try to lose weight and maintain a healthy active lifestyle. Do not be afraid to exercise i.e. stationary bike, walking and swimming as well as pilates, yoga and aqua aerobics. These all help to keep you aerobically fit.
A couple of weeks before the operation, you will usually be asked to attend a pre-operative assessment clinic to meet your surgeon and other members of the surgical team. They will take your medical history, examine you and organise any tests needed, to make sure you are healthy enough for an anaesthetic and surgery.
They will give you advice on anything you can do to prepare for surgery and ask you about your home circumstances so your discharge from hospital can be planned. If you live alone, have a carer or feel you need extra support, tell the team so that help or support can be arranged before you go into hospital.
Take a list or the packaging of any medication you are taking. Some rheumatoid arthritis medications suppress the immune system, which can affect healing. For this reason you may be asked to stop taking them before surgery. Your surgeon can advise you about alternative medications.
Exercising before the operation
You can prepare for the operation by staying as active as you can. Strengthening the muscles around your hip will aid your recovery. You may be referred to a physiotherapist, who can give you helpful exercises. If you can, keep up any gentle exercise, such as walking and swimming, in the weeks and months before your operation.
The following exercises can help maintain your muscle strength and movement before surgery:
- Stand at the bottom of the stairs and put one foot on the second stair. Alternatively, put one foot on a kitchen stool. Hold on to the banister or another firm support. Lean forward to bend the top leg while stretching the front of the standing leg. Hold this for about 30 seconds, then repeat with the other leg.
- Stand on the affected leg for short periods, lifting the good leg off the floor. Concentrate on holding the pelvis level. Use a support as necessary for balance.
- Lie on your back. Pull one leg up to your chest, keeping the other leg flat down on the bed. Repeat the exercise with the other leg. (Only do this exercise if you have not already had a hip replacement on one side.)
- Lie on your back. Bend your knee up so that your foot rests flat on the bed, and allow the bent knee to fall out to the side as much as is comfortable.
- Lie on your stomach and then flat on your back for approximately 20 minutes once or twice a day (early morning or late at night while in bed is often a good time), to stretch the front and back of your hip.
Preparing for your hospital stay
- Get informed. Find out as much as you can about what is involved in your operation. Your hospital may provide written information or videos.
- Arrange help. Arrange for a friend or relative to help you at home for a week or two after you come home from hospital.
- Sort out transport. Arrange for someone (either a friend or relative or a taxi) to take you to and from the hospital.
- Prepare your home. Before you go for your operation, put your TV remote control, radio, telephone, medications, tissues, address book and a glass on a table next to where you will spend most of your time when you come out of hospital.
- Stock up. Buy food that is easy to prepare such as frozen ready meals, cans and staples, such as rice and pasta, or prepare your own dishes to freeze and reheat during your recovery.
- Clean up. Before going into hospital, have a long bath or shower, cut your nails (taking off any nail polish) and wash your hair. Put on freshly washed clothes. This helps prevent unwanted bacteria coming into hospital with you and complicating your care.
When you go into hospital
You will usually be admitted to hospital the day of your operation (or earlier if you have any additional medical problems such as heart disease). The surgeon and anaesthetist will usually come and see you again to discuss what will happen and give you the opportunity to ask any more questions.
You will not have anything to eat or drink for about six hours before your operation.
Just before surgery, the ward staff will help you to take a bath or shower and put on a surgical gown. You will have to remove make-up, nail polish or jewellery. If you wear glasses or false teeth, these can be removed in the anaesthetic room.
You will then be escorted to theatre by a nurse.
What should I take into hospital?
- A change of nightclothes.
- Something comfortable and easy to wear for when you are on your feet again.
- Antiseptic handwipes and a plastic bag with bulldog clip (use these after going to the toilet and clip the bag to your sheet for your personal rubbish).
- Books, iPod, stationery, jigsaws, crossword books and other things to help pass the time during your recovery.
- Healthy snacks for between meals.
- Your address book and important phone numbers.
You will have a bedside locker for your personal belongings. Avoid taking large amounts of money or other valuables into hospital.
Before your operation, you will receive either a general anaesthetic (where you are put to sleep) or a spinal (epidural) anaesthetic plus sedation. The spinal anaesthetic numbs your body from the waist down to your toes so that you cannot feel the surgery. Surgeons prefer spinal anaesthetics as you lose less blood and recover quicker from surgery. However some people are unsuitable for spinal anaesthetics and your anaesthetist will counsel you before your surgery.
Once you have been anaesthetised, the surgeon removes the existing hip joint completely. The upper part of the femur (thigh bone) is removed and the natural socket for the head of the femur is hollowed out.
A plastic or ceramic socket is fitted into the hollow in the pelvis. A short, angled metal shaft with a smooth ball on its upper end (to fit into the socket) is placed into the hollow of the thigh bone. The plastic cup and the artificial bone head may be pressed into place or fixed with acrylic cement.
Both types of hip replacement surgery use the same sort of prosthetic parts, which can be cemented or uncemented:
- Cemented parts are secured to healthy bone using a special glue.
- Uncemented parts are made from permeable material that has many tiny holes. This allows the bone to grow into it, holding it in place.
Most prosthetic parts are produced using high-density polythene for the socket, titanium alloys for the shaft, and sometimes a separate ball made of an alloy (mixture) of cobalt, chromium and molybdenum. Some surgeons use ceramic parts, which do not wear as quickly as plastic.
The hip replacement operation has become a routine and simple procedure. However, as with all surgery, it carries a degree of risk.
Choosing your prosthesis
There are more than 60 different types of implant or prosthesis. In practice, however, the options are usually limited to around four or five. Your surgeon can advise you on the type they think would suit you best. Your surgeon may have a preference of implant. Generally this is one they are familiar with and are used to using. Newer implants are available all the time but your surgeon will discuss this with you in advance of your procedure.
Choose a specialist who regularly performs hip replacements and can discuss their results with you. This is even more important if you are having a second or subsequent hip replacement, known as revision hip transplant, which is trickier to perform.
Look for a specialist who will work with you to find the best treatment for you.
Loosening of the joint
The most common problem that can arise as a result of a hip replacement is loosening of the joint. This can be caused by the shaft of the prosthesis becoming loose in the hollow of the thigh bone, or due to thinning of the bone around the implant.
Another operation (revision surgery) may be necessary, although this cannot be performed on all patients.
Wear and tear
Another common complication of hip replacement surgery is caused by the wear and tear of the artificial sockets. Particles that have worn off the artificial joint surfaces can be absorbed by surrounding tissue, causing inflammation. If this happens you may be advised to have further surgery.
This can be reduced by using antibiotics at the time of surgery and by using 'clean air' ventilation in theatre. However, infection still occurs in less than 1 in 100 cases. Deeper infection is serious and requires removal and re-implantation of the joint.
These can form in the deep veins of the leg (deep vein thrombosis) due to reduced movement, but can be prevented using special stockings, exercises and medications.
Less common complications
- Dislocation. In a small number of cases, the artificial hip can come out of its socket. It can be replaced under anaesthetic, but repeated problems require further surgery.
- Joint stiffening. The soft tissues can harden around the implant, causing reduced mobility. This is not usually painful and can be prevented using medication or radiation therapy (a quick and painless procedure during which controlled doses of radiation are directed at your hip joint).
- Limb Length change. Sometimes the leg that you have the surgery on may be longer than your other leg. This is occasionally necessary as the surgeon has to ensure that the new hip is safe and stable and that it does not dislocate. Most leg lengths settle in time as your body adjusts to the new hip. You may even require your other hip replaced and the surgeon will attempt to match your leg lengths at this procedure. It is important that the hip replacement is stable and safe and this is the primary aim of the surgeon when doing your replacement.
After the operation, you will be lying flat on your back and may have a pillow between your legs to keep your hip in the correct position. The nursing staff will monitor your condition and you will have a large dressing on your leg to protect the wound.
You may be allowed to have a drink about an hour after you return to the ward and you will also be allowed to have food, depending on your condition.
How soon will I be up and about?
The staff will help you to get up and walk about as quickly as possible after surgery. Some patients are able to get up and walk the same day they had surgery.
It is normal, initially, to experience discomfort while walking and exercising, and your legs and feet may be swollen. You may be given an injection into your abdomen to help prevent blood clots forming in your legs and a short course of antibiotics to help prevent infection.
A physiotherapist may teach you exercises to help strengthen the hip and explain what should and should not be done after the operation. They will teach you how to bend and sit to avoid damaging your new hip.
It is important that you take the prescribed pain killers and all tablets for the full period of the prescription. Remember the pain that you have before the hip replacement is now gone and this new pain is the pain after the surgery and it will heal and get better in time. It is vitally important to take the pain killers as not to do so will slow your recovery.
When can I go home?
You will usually be in hospital from two to five days. If you are generally fit and well, the surgeon may suggest an enhanced recovery programme, where you start walking on the day of the operation and are discharged within one to three days.
How will I feel when I get home?
Do not be surprised if you feel very tired at first. You have had a major operation and muscles and tissues surrounding your new hip will take time to heal.
You may be eligible for home help and there may be aids that can help you. You may want to arrange to have someone to help you for a week or so.
An occupational therapist should be available to help you. They will assess how physically capable you are and, when you are about to leave hospital, they will assess your circumstances at home.
Your occupational therapist will be able to advise you on how to do daily activities, such as washing yourself, more easily. They will also advise about any equipment you may need to help you to be independent in your daily activities. This may include a raised toilet seat and aids to help you dress.
How soon will the pain go away?
The pain that you may have previously experienced should go immediately, although you can expect to have a different form of pain from the operation, which is only temporary.
Is there anything I should look out for or worry about?
After hip replacement surgery, contact your GP if you notice redness, fluid or an increase in pain in the new joint.
Will I have to go back to hospital?
You will be given an appointment to check up on your progress, usually 6-12 weeks after your hip replacement. The surgeon will want to see you a year later to check that everything is OK, and every five years after that to X-ray your hip and make sure it is not beginning to loosen. The HSE are setting up a national hip registry and it is important that you are included on this registry to properly follow your hip replacement as the years go by.
How long will it be before I feel back to normal?
Generally, you should be able to stop using your crutches within four to six weeks and feel more or less normal by three months. You should be able to do all your normal activities.
It is best to avoid extreme movements or sports where there is a risk of falling, such as skiing or riding. Your doctor or a physiotherapist can advise you about this.
When can I drive again?
You can usually drive again after about six weeks. Your surgeon can advise. It can be tricky getting in and out of your car at first. It is best to ease yourself in backwards and swing both legs round together. Sometimes it is handy to carry a plastic bag with you and to sit on it whilst driving, it allows you to rotate out of the car easier. Do not drive for long distances for the first two months after the hip replacement. Try and avoid heavy traffic where you have a lot of stop start driving. Remember that if you have had a right hip replacement you may need to perform an emergency braking manoeuvre at any time.
When can I go back to work?
This depends on your job, but you can usually return to work between 6 and 12 weeks after your operation.
How will it affect my sex life?
If you were finding sex difficult before because of pain, you may find that having the operation gives your sex life a boost. Your surgeon can advise when it is OK to have sex again. As long as you are careful, you should be able to have sex after six to eight weeks. Avoid vigorous sex and more extreme positions.
Will I need another new hip?
Nowadays, most hip implants last for 20 years or more. If you are older, your new hip may last your lifetime. If you are younger, you may need another new hip at some point.
Revision surgery is more complicated and time-consuming for the surgeon to perform than a first hip replacement and complication rates are usually higher. It cannot be performed in every patient. However, it is much more successful than it used to be and most people who can have it report success for 10 years or more.
Looking after your new hip
With care, your new hip should last well. The following tips will help you care for your new hip:
- Avoid bending your hip more than 90° (a right angle) during any activity.
- Avoid twisting your hip.
- Do not swivel on the ball of your foot.
- When you turn around, take small steps.
- Do not apply pressure to the wound in the early stages (so avoid lying on your side).
- Do not cross your legs over each other.
- Do not force the hip or do anything that makes your hip feel uncomfortable.
- Avoid low chairs and toilet seats (raised toilet seats are available).
Hip replacement surgery is being improved in several ways:
- New, stronger materials for prosthetics are being developed that will allow longer wear and better joint mobility.
- Enhancements are being made to new 'cementless' implants. Patients can be recommended for newer types of joints, such as ceramic-on-ceramic and ceramic-on-plastic.
- A new kind of minimally invasive surgery is sometimes used to reduce the size of the surgical incision.

Is nós imeachta máinliachta é in ionad hip a chur in ionad do chomhpháirt hip le leagan saorga. Soláthraíonn sé réiteach fadtéarmach do chomhpháirteanna hip atá caite nó damáiste a tharla mar gheall ar ghortú nó ar ghalair, mar shampla osteoarthritis, a d'fhéadfadh pian dian agus caillteanas soghluaisteachta a chur faoi deara.
Is comhpháirteach liathróid agus soicéad é an comhpháirteach hip. Cuirtear codanna saorga in ionad an soicéad nádúrtha agus an liathróid bhabhta ag barr an chnámh thigh.
Déantar ar a laghad 4500 ionad hip in Éirinn gach bliain, de ghnáth ar dhaoine fásta os cionn 65 bliain d'aois. Tá seans níos mó ann go dteastaíonn athsholáthar hip ó mhná ná ó fhir.
Meastar go ginearálta go bhfuil an t-ionchas le haghaidh athsholáthar hip go maith. Is oibríocht ghnáthamh í a chuireann deireadh le pian i gcomhpháirteanna, feabhas ar ghluaiseacht agus cáilíocht níos fearr saoil. Maireann athsholáthar hip faoi láthair thart ar 20-30 bliain.
Is oibríocht mhór í, áfach, a bhfuil tréimhse athshlánaithe sách fada aici. I measc na bhfadhbanna a bhaineann leis seo tá caitheamh agus scriosadh an próitéis i ndaoine atá níos gníomhaí, agus an gléas a dhíscaoileadh nó a scaoileadh.
Is é cuspóir na hailt hip nua:
- pian a mhaolú,
- feabhas a chur ar fheidhm do chlé,
- feabhas a chur ar do chumas gluaiseachta, agus
- do cháilíocht saoil a fheabhsú.
Is é an próiseas athsholáthair hip an chóireáil is éifeachtaí do chomhpháirt cnámh a chuireann pian ar an gcnámh agus nach féidir leis feidhmiú i gceart. Is iad na cúiseanna is coitianta le haghaidh máinliachta:
- Osteoarthritis. Is é seo an cineál is coitianta d'artrit. Tarlaíonn sé nuair a dhéantar damáiste do na fíocháin cheangail idir an chomhpháirt, rud a fhágann go ndéanann cnámha frithcheangal a dhéanamh le chéile go pianmhar.
- Arthritis reamháite. Tá sé seo mar gheall ar an gcóras imdhíonachta ag ionsaí liathróid an chomhpháirte, rud a fhágann go bhfuil pian agus stiffness ann.
- Arthritis Seiptic. Tarlaíonn an cineál seo arthritis nuair a bhíonn an comhpháirt ionfhabhtaithe.
- Briseadh ar shúil chnámh an fhiacla (femur). Mar thoradh air seo, cailltear soláthar fola do cheann cruinn an chnámh agus d'fhéadfadh sé go mbeadh an cnámh ag cromadh (necróis avascular).
- Galar cnámh Paget. Bíonn tionchar ag an gcos seo ar fhás na cnámha agus d'fhéadfadh sé cnámha a dhéanamh lag agus dífhoirmithe.
- Tuamóirí cnámh.
- Gortú comhpháirteanna eile.
Uaireanta bíonn gá le malartuithe cnámh freisin i:
- Cásanna déanacha de dhisplaisíocht forbartha an chnoic, riocht a chuireann cosc ar an gcomhpháirteach liathróid agus soicéad cnoic a fhorbairt i gceart. Mura ndéantar cóireáil air, d'fhéadfadh sé go mbeadh deformities buan ann agus go mbeadh fadhbanna ag siúl.
- Briseadh i gcomhpháirteanna hip a tharlaíonn mar gheall ar osteoporosis, rud a fhágann go mbíonn na cnámha tanaí agus lag. Ní féidir le cealla áirithe sa chnámh seanchnámh a bhriseadh síos agus cnámh láidir sláintiúil a chur ina n-ionad.
An gá dom a chur in ionad an chnoic?
Is féidir leat amháin a dhéanamh an cinneadh seo. B'fhéidir gur mhaith leat na nithe seo a leanas a mheas:
- An bhfuil an pian chomh dian go bhfuil sé ag cur isteach ar do cháilíocht saoil, lena n-áirítear codladh?
- An bhfuil drugaí agus cóireálacha eile nach raibh ag obair nó a bhfuil siad ag cruthú fo-iarsmaí tromchúiseacha?
- An bhfuil tascanna laethúla deacair nó dodhéanta?
- An bhfuil tú ag mothú dúlagar mar thoradh ar pian agus easpa soghluaisteachta?
- An bhfuil tú in ann a bheith ag obair nó a bheith ina saol sóisialta gnáth?
Roghanna eile seachas máinliacht
Níl aon roghanna máinliachta eile ann seachas athsholáthar hip, ach d'fhéadfadh go mbeadh roinnt drugaí ag cabhrú:
- Píosaí pian, lena n-áirítear drugaí frith-athlastacha neamhstéaróideacha (FNFA), má tá athlasadh ar do ghné hip freisin.
- Is féidir le steirióidí instealladh cabhrú i gcásanna áirithe, cé go bhfuil a gcuid torthaí indéanta sa hip mar sin ní mholtar i ndáiríre.
- Tá uachtar, géil agus rubs a mhaolú pian ar fáil thar an gcuntar nó ar oideas. Níl a fhios conas a dhéantar iad seo a chur i gcomparáid le bealaí níos traidisiúnta le pillsillín a ghlacadh.
- Drugaí a mhaireann galar - athraíonn na drugaí seo feidhmiú an chórais imdhíonachta chun na próisis bhunúsacha a bhaineann le foirmeacha áirithe athlastacha arthritis a bhac.
Déan iarracht meáchan a chailleadh agus stíl mhaireachtála sláintiúil gníomhach a choinneáil. Ná bíodh eagla ort a fheidhmiú i.e. rothar seasta, siúl agus snámh chomh maith le pilates, yoga agus aerobics uisce. Cabhraíonn siad seo go léir leat a bheith aeróbach.
Cúpla seachtain roimh an oibríocht, iarrfar ort de ghnáth freastal ar chlinic measúnaithe réamh-oibríochtúil chun bualadh le do liathróir agus le baill eile den fhoireann máinliachta. Tógfaidh siad do thaifead leighis, scrúdóidh siad tú agus eagraíonn siad aon tástálacha is gá, chun a chinntiú go bhfuil tú sláintiúil go leor le haghaidh anaistéis agus máinliachta.
Tabharfaidh siad comhairle duit faoi aon rud is féidir leat a dhéanamh chun ullmhú don mháinliacht agus fiafraíonn siad díot faoi do chúrsaí sa bhaile ionas gur féidir pleanáil a dhéanamh ar do dhíol ón ospidéal. Má tá tú ag cónaí i do chónaí féin, má tá cúramóir agat nó má bhraitheann tú go bhfuil tacaíocht bhreise ag teastáil uait, inis don fhoireann ionas gur féidir cabhair nó tacaíocht a shocrú sula dtéann tú isteach san ospidéal.
Tóg liosta nó pacáistiú aon chógas atá á ghlacadh agat. Cuireann roinnt cógais reamháitice ar an gcóras imdhíonachta, rud a d'fhéadfadh tionchar a bheith aige ar leigheas. Ar an gcúis seo, d'fhéadfaí a iarraidh ort stop a chur leis iad a ghlacadh roimh an máinliacht. Féadfaidh do dhochtúir máinliachta comhairle a thabhairt duit faoi chógais mhalartacha.
Ag cleachtadh roimh an oibríocht
Is féidir leat ullmhú don oibríocht trí bheith chomh gníomhach agus is féidir leat. Cabhróidh neartú na matáin timpeall do hip le do ghnóthú. D'fhéadfadh go gcuirfí tú i gcomhairle le fisiceolaí, a d'fhéadfadh cleachtaí cabhrach a thabhairt duit. Má tá sé de chumas agat, déan aon ghníomhaíocht mhaol, mar shampla siúl agus snámh, sna seachtainí agus na míonna roimh do ghníomh.
Is féidir leis na cleachtaí seo a leanas cabhrú le do neart matáin agus gluaiseacht a choinneáil roimh an máinliacht:
- Seas ag bun na staighre agus cuir cos amháin ar an dara staighre. Ina ionad sin, cuir cos amháin ar bhéile an chistin. Coinnigh ort ar an mbarr nó ar thacaíocht láidir eile. Lean ar aghaidh chun an cos barr a chlúdach agus tosaigh an chos seasamh á shíneadh. Coinnigh an t-am seo ar feadh thart ar 30 soicind, ansin déan arís leis an gcosa eile.
- Seas ar an gcosa atá buailte ar feadh tréimhsí ghearr, ag tógáil an chos sláintiúil as an urlár. Díriú ar a choinneáil ar leibhéal pelvis. Úsáid tacaíocht de réir mar is gá chun cothromaíocht a bhaint amach.
- Lie ar do chúl. Tarraing cos amháin suas go dtí do chistin, agus an cos eile a choinneáil cothrom síos ar an leaba. Déan an cleachtadh leis an gcosa eile. (Ní dhéanfaidh tú an cleachtadh seo ach amháin mura ndearnadh athsholáthar cnámh ar thaobh amháin de do chuid.)
- Lie ar do chúl. Bend do ghlúine suas ionas go bhfuil do chos ag brath ar an leaba, agus lig an ghlúine croí a thit amach ar an taobh chomh fada agus is compordach.
- Luigh ar do bholg agus ansin go cothrom ar do chúl ar feadh thart ar 20 nóiméad uair nó dhó sa lá (go luath ar maidin nó go déanach san oíche agus tú i do leaba is minic go bhfuil sé ina am maith), chun do chúl agus do thaobh tosaigh do chúl a shíneadh.
Ag ullmhú do thréimhse san ospidéal
- Faigh eolas. Faigh amach an oiread agus is féidir leat faoi na rudaí a bhaineann le do chuid oibre. Féadfaidh an t- ospidéal a bhfuil tú ag dul chuig a bheith in ann faisnéis i scríbhinn nó i bhfíseán a sholáthar.
- Ard-eagraigh cabhair. Déan socrú le cara nó le gaol cabhrú leat sa bhaile ar feadh seachtaine nó dhó tar éis duit teacht abhaile ón ospidéal.
- Déan iompar a shocrú. Déan socrú le duine éigin (cairde nó gaol nó tacsaí) chun tú a thabhairt go dtí an t-ospidéal agus a thabhairt ar ais.
- Ullmhaigh do theach. Sula dtéann tú ar do chuid oibríochta, cuir do rialtán teilifíse, raidió, teileafón, cógais, fíocháin, leabhar seoltaí agus gloine ar bhord in aice leis an áit a gcaithfidh tú an chuid is mó de do chuid ama nuair a thagann tú amach as an ospidéal.
- Stoc suas. Ceannaigh bia atá éasca le ullmhú, mar shampla béilí réidh reoite, canáin agus greimíní, mar shampla rís agus pasta, nó ullmhaigh do mhias féin le reo agus athfhriotáil le linn do shláinte a athshlánú.
- Glan suas. Sula dtéann tú chuig an ospidéal, bain snámh nó cithfholcadh fada, gearr do shnáithe (ag baint aon lóch ingne) agus nigh do chuid gruaige. Cuir éadaí úr-niste ar do chuid éadaí. Cabhraíonn sé seo le bac a chur ar bhaictéir nach dteastaíonn a thagann isteach sa ospidéal leat agus a chuireann deacracht ar do chúram.
Nuair a théann tú isteach san ospidéal
De ghnáth tabharfar isteach ort san ospidéal an lá a ndéantar an oibríocht (nó níos luaithe má tá aon fhadhbanna sláinte eile agat, mar shampla galar croí). De ghnáth, tiocfaidh an máinliacht agus an anaesthetist agus déanfaidh siad athbhreithniú ort chun an méid a tharlóidh a phlé agus deis a thabhairt duit ceisteanna breise a chur.
Ní bheidh aon rud le hithe nó le hól agat ar feadh thart ar sé uair an chloig roimh do chuid oibríocht.
Díreach roimh an bpróiseas máinliachta, cabhróidh an fhoireann páirce leat folctha nó cith a ghlacadh agus go gcuirfear goileáin máinliachta ort. Beidh ort makeup, polish ingne nó seodra a bhaint. Má tá spéaclaí nó fiacla bréige agat, is féidir iad seo a bhaint sa seomra anaistise.
Beidh altra ag gabháil leat ansin go dtí an seomra oibre.
Cad ba chóir dom a thabhairt isteach san ospidéal?
- Athrú na nightcloths.
- Rud éigin compordach agus éasca a chaitheamh le haghaidh nuair a bhíonn tú ar do chosa arís.
- Tóg an t- oighear le do chuid gruaige agus cuir an t- oighear i do chuid gruaige.
- Leabhair, iPod, stáitreabh, jigsaws, leabhair crosfhocal agus rudaí eile chun cabhrú leis an am a rith le linn do ghnóthú.
- Snacks sláintiúla le haghaidh idir béilí.
- Do leabhar seoltaí agus uimhreacha teileafóin tábhachtacha.
Beidh seicliostaí ag do leaba agat le haghaidh do chuid earraí pearsanta. Ná tóg airgead mór nó earraí luachmhara eile isteach san ospidéal.
Roimh do chuid oibríochta, gheobhaidh tú nó anaesthetic ginearálta (nuair a chuirtear tú a chodladh) nó anaesthetic spinal (epidural) chomh maith le sedation. Déanann an t-anesthetic spinal do chorp a numb ó do chlé síos go dtí do mhéara ionas nach mbraitheann tú an máinliacht. Is fearr le máinlianna anaesthetics spinal mar go gcaillfidh tú níos lú fola agus go bhfásfaidh tú níos tapúla ó mháinliacht. Mar sin féin, ní hionann roinnt daoine le haisteirice spinal agus tabharfaidh do anaisteisteoir comhairle duit roimh do chuid máinliachta.
Nuair a bheidh tú curtha faoi anaesthesia, bainfidh an máinliacht an comhpháirteach hip atá ann cheana féin as go hiomlán. Tógtar an chuid uachtarach den femur (cnámh an fhiacla) agus déantar an soicéad nádúrtha do cheann an femur a shlógadh amach.
Tá an t-amhrán seo ag cur an t-amhrán i bhfeidhm go hiomlán. Cuirtear sciath miotail ghearr, uillinn le liathróid réidh ar a cheann uachtarach (le dul isteach sa soicéad) isteach i hollow an chnámh thigh. Is féidir an cupán plaisteacha agus an ceann cnámh shaorga a phriontáil ina háit nó a shocrú le síomant aicrileach.
Úsáidtear an dá chineál máinliachta athsholáthair hip an cineál céanna páirteanna próitéiseacha, ar féidir iad a shéimint nó a neamhshéimint:
- Déantar codanna cimentáilte a dhaingniú le cnámh sláintiúil ag baint úsáide as greama speisialta.
- Déantar páirteanna neamhchinnithe ó ábhar trédhearcach a bhfuil go leor poill bheaga aige. Ligeann sé seo don chnámh fás isteach ann, agus é a choinneáil ina áit.
Déantar an chuid is mó de na codanna próitéiseacha a tháirgeadh ag baint úsáide as poileitéin ard-dlúis don soicéad, cóimhiotail tíotáiniam don sciath, agus uaireanta liathróid ar leithligh déanta as cóimhiotail (meascán) de cobalt, cróimiam agus molibdín. Baineann roinnt máinlianna páirteanna ceirmeacha a úsáid, nach n-éireoidh chomh tapa le plaisteach.
Tá an oibríocht athsholáthair hip tar éis éirí ina nós imeachta ghnáthamh agus simplí. Mar sin féin, mar a tharlaíonn le gach máinliacht, tá riosca áirithe ann.
Do próitéis a roghnú
Tá níos mó ná 60 cineál éagsúla implant nó próitéis ann. I gcleachtas, áfach, bíonn na roghanna teoranta de ghnáth go dtí thart ar cheithre nó cúig. Is féidir le do liachta comhairle a thabhairt duit ar an gcineál a cheapann sé is fearr leat. D'fhéadfadh go mbeadh rogha ag do liathróir ar implant. Go ginearálta is é seo ceann a bhfuil siad eolach air agus a bhfuil siad cleachtadh air a úsáid. Tá feistí nua-aimseartha ar fáil i gcónaí ach pléfaidh do chuid máinliachta seo leat roimh do nós imeachta.
Roghnaigh speisialtóir a dhéanann athsholáthar hip go rialta agus is féidir leis na torthaí a phlé leat. Tá sé seo níos tábhachtaí fós má tá tú ag déanamh an dara nó athsholáthar cnámh, ar a dtugtar trasphlandú cnámh athbhreithnithe, atá níos deacra a dhéanamh.
Féach ar speisialtóir a oibreoidh leat chun an chóireáil is fearr a fháil duit.
An comhpháirt a scaoileadh
Is é an fhadhb is coitianta a d'fhéadfadh teacht chun cinn mar thoradh ar athsholáthar hip ná an comhpháirte a scaoileadh. Is féidir é seo a bheith mar gheall ar shaft an próitéis a bheith scaoilte i hollow an chnámh thigh, nó mar gheall ar thinnting an chnámh timpeall an implant.
D'fhéadfadh go mbeadh gá le hoibríocht eile (mhodh athshlánúcháin), cé nach féidir é seo a dhéanamh ar gach othar.
Caitheamh agus scrios
Is é an deacracht is coitianta eile a bhaineann le máinliacht athsholáthair hip ná caitheamh agus scrios na mboscaí saorga. Is féidir le fíocháin atá caite ar na dromchlaí comhpháirteacha saorga a ionsú ag fíochán timpeall, ag cúis le athlasadh. Má tharlaíonn sé seo, b'fhéidir go gcuirfear comhairle ort máinliacht a dhéanamh.
Is féidir é seo a laghdú trí antaibheathaigh a úsáid tráth an máinliachta agus trí aeráil 'ghlan' a úsáid sa seomra. Ach, tarlaíonn ionfhabhtaithe fós i níos lú ná 1 as 100 cás. Tá ionfhabhtú níos doimhne tromchúiseach agus teastaíonn a bhaint agus ath-ionsú an chomhpháirte.
Is féidir iad seo a fhoirmiú i na fíocháin domhain den chos (trombóis fíochán domhain) mar gheall ar ghluaiseacht laghdaithe, ach is féidir iad a chosc trí stocaí speisialta, cleachtaí agus cógais a úsáid.
Iompordú níos lú coitianta
- Dí-scaoileadh. I líon beag cásanna, is féidir leis an gcroí saorga teacht amach as a soicéad. Is féidir é a athsholáthar faoi anaesthetic, ach teastaíonn tuilleadh máinliachta ó fhadhbanna athfhillteacha.
- Comharthanacht comhpháirteach. Is féidir leis na fíocháin bhoga a bheith crua timpeall an phléascáin, rud a fhágann go bhfuil lú soghluaisteacht. De ghnáth ní bhíonn sé seo pianmhar agus is féidir é a chosc le cóireáil cógais nó radaíochta (nó modh tapa agus gan pian a chuirtear dáileoga rialaithe radaíochta ina dtreo ar do chomhpháirt hip).
- Athrú ar fhad na gcomhaltaí. Uaireanta d'fhéadfadh go mbeadh an cos a bhfuil an máinliacht déanta ort níos faide ná do chos eile. Uaireanta is gá é seo toisc go gcaithfidh an máinliachtóir a chinntiú go bhfuil an cnámh nua sábháilte agus seasmhach agus nach bhfuil sé ag éirí as a áit. Is minic a shocraíonn fad na cosa le himeacht ama de réir mar a choigeartúíonn do chorp leis an gcroí nua. D'fhéadfadh go mbeadh ort do chnámh eile a athshlánú agus déanfaidh an máinliachtóir iarracht do fhad cos a mheaitseáil sa nós imeachta seo. Tá sé tábhachtach go bhfuil an athsholáthar hip seasmhach agus sábháilte agus is é seo príomhchuspóir an máinliachta nuair a dhéanann sé do athsholáthar.
Tar éis an oibríochta, beidh tú ag luí go cothrom ar do chúl agus d'fhéadfadh go mbeadh pillow idir do chosa chun do chúl a choinneáil sa seasamh ceart. Déanfaidh an fhoireann altraíochta faireachán ar do riocht agus cuirfear bandaíocht mhór ar do chos chun an ghort a chosaint.
Féadfaidh tú deoch a ól thart ar uair an chloig tar éis duit filleadh ar an gclár agus ceadófar duit bia a ithe freisin, ag brath ar do riocht.
Cén t-am a bheidh mé suas agus thart?
Cabhróidh an fhoireann leat éirí suas agus siúl chomh tapa agus is féidir tar éis an oibríocht. Tá roinnt othair in ann seasamh suas agus siúl an lá céanna a ndearnadh an mháinliacht orthu.
Tá sé gnáth, ar dtús, míchompord a fháil agus tú ag siúl agus ag aclaíocht, agus d'fhéadfadh do chosa agus do chosa a bheith swollen. D'fhéadfadh sé go dtabharfaí instealladh isteach i do bholg chun cabhrú le clútha fola a chruthú i do chosa agus cúrsa gearr antaibheathach chun cabhrú le haireamh a chosc.
D'fhéadfadh fisiceolaí cleachtaí a mhúineadh duit chun cabhrú leis an hip a neartú agus a mhíniú cad ba chóir agus nach ba chóir a dhéanamh tar éis an oibríochta. Múinfidh siad duit conas do chúl a shlánú agus suí chun do chúl nua a chosc.
Tá sé tábhachtach go dtógfaidh tú na pillsí pian a fhorordaítear duit agus na táibléid go léir ar feadh tréimhse iomlán an oideas. Cuimhnigh go bhfuil an pian a bhí agat roimh an athsholáthar hip imithe anois agus is é an pian nua seo an pian tar éis an oibríochta agus go mbeidh sé a leigheas agus a fháil níos fearr le himeacht ama. Tá sé ríthábhachtach na phian-chillíní a ghlacadh mar nach ndéanfaidh sé sin do ghnóthú a mhoilliú.
Nuair is féidir liom dul abhaile?
De ghnáth beidh tú san ospidéal idir dhá lá agus cúig lá. Má tá tú fónta agus go maith, féadfaidh an máinliachtóir clár athshlánúcháin feabhsaithe a mholadh, áit a dtosaíonn tú ag siúl ar lá an oibríochta agus a scaoiltear laistigh de lá go trí lá.
Conas a bhraitheann mé nuair a thagann mé abhaile?
Ná bíodh iontas ort má bhraitheann tú go bhfuil tú an-tuirseach ar dtús. Tá oibríocht mhór déanta ort agus glacfaidh sé tamall ar na matáin agus na fíocháin atá timpeall do chúl nua a leigheas.
D'fhéadfadh go mbeadh tú i dteideal cúnamh baile agus d'fhéadfadh go mbeadh cabhracha ann a d'fhéadfadh cabhrú leat. B'fhéidir gur mhaith leat duine a shocrú chun cabhrú leat ar feadh seachtaine nó mar sin.
Ba cheart go mbeadh teiripeoir saothair ar fáil chun cabhrú leat. Déanfaidh siad measúnú ar do chumas fisiciúil agus, nuair atá tú ar tí an ospidéal a fhágáil, déanfaidh siad measúnú ar do chúrsaí sa bhaile.
Beidh do theiripeoir oibre in ann comhairle a thabhairt duit maidir le conas gníomhaíochtaí laethúla, amhail tú féin a ní, a dhéanamh níos éasca. Tabharfaidh siad comhairle duit freisin maidir le haon trealamh a d'fhéadfadh a bheith ag teastáil uait chun cabhrú leat a bheith neamhspleách i do ghníomhaíochtaí laethúla. D'fhéadfadh sé seo suí folctha ardaithe agus cabhracha a bheith ann chun cabhrú leat dul i gúna.
Cén t-am a rachaidh an pian ar shiúl?
Ba chóir go dtiocfadh an pian a d'fhéadfadh a bheith agat roimhe seo láithreach, cé gur féidir leat a bheith ag súil go mbeidh cineál pian difriúil agat ón oibríocht, nach bhfuil ach sealadach.
An bhfuil aon rud ba chóir dom a bheith ag faire amach nó a bheith buartha faoi?
Tar éis máinliacht athsholáthair hip, déan teagmháil le do dhochtúir cónaithe má thugann tú faoi deara dearg, sreabhach nó méadú pian sa chomhpháirt nua.
An mbeidh orm dul ar ais go dtí an ospidéal?
Tabharfar coinneáil duit chun do dhul chun cinn a sheiceáil, de ghnáth 6-12 seachtaine tar éis do athsholáthar hip. Ba mhaith leis an máinliachtóir tú a fheiceáil bliain ina dhiaidh sin chun a sheiceáil go bhfuil gach rud ceart go leor, agus gach cúig bliana ina dhiaidh sin chun X-ghat a dhéanamh ar do chlé agus a chinntiú nach bhfuil sé ag tosú a scaoileadh. Tá clár náisiúnta hip á chur ar bun ag FSS agus tá sé tábhachtach go bhfuil tú san áireamh sa chlár seo chun do chur in ionad hip a leanúint i gceart de réir mar a théann na blianta.
Cé chomh fada is a bheidh sé sula bhraitheann mé ar ais go gnáth?
Go ginearálta, ba cheart go mbeadh tú in ann stop a chur le do chróic a úsáid laistigh de cheithre go sé seachtaine agus go mbraitheann tú níos mó nó níos lú gnáth trí mhí. Ba chóir go mbeadh tú in ann do ghnáthghníomhaíochtaí a dhéanamh.
Is fearr gluaiseachtaí iomarcacha nó spóirt ina bhfuil baol titim, mar shampla sciáil nó marcaíocht, a sheachaint. Féadfaidh do dhochtúir nó fisiceolaí comhairle a thabhairt duit faoi seo.
Nuair is féidir liom tiomáint arís?
Is gnách go mbeidh tú in ann tiomáint arís tar éis thart ar sé seachtaine. Féadfaidh do liachta comhairle a thabhairt duit. D'fhéadfadh sé a bheith deacair dul isteach agus amach as do charr ar dtús. Is fearr duit tú féin a shásamh ar ais agus an dá chos a shlánú le chéile. Uaireanta is áisiúil mála plaisteach a iompar leat agus suí air agus tú ag tiomáint, tugann sé deis duit rothlú amach as an gcarr níos éasca. Ná tiománaigh ar chiorcal fada ar feadh na chéad dhá mhí tar éis an athsholáthar hip. Déan iarracht agus seachnóidh tú trácht trom nuair a bhíonn go leor stad agat tosaigh ag tiomáint. Cuimhnigh má bhí athsholáthar cnámh ceart agat d'fhéadfadh go mbeadh gá agat maneabra brú éigeandála a dhéanamh ag am ar bith.
Nuair is féidir liom dul ar ais ag obair?
Braitheann sé seo ar do phost, ach is gnách go bhféadfá dul ar ais ag obair idir 6 agus 12 seachtaine tar éis do chuid oibre.
Conas a dhéanfaidh sé difear do mo shaol gnéis?
Má bhí sé deacair ort gnéas a dhéanamh roimhe seo mar gheall ar pian, b'fhéidir go bhfaighidh tú go dtugann an oibríocht spreagadh do shaol gnéis. Is féidir le do dhochtúir a rá leat cathain is féidir leat gnéas a bheith agat arís. Chomh fada agus a bheidh tú cúramach, ba cheart go mbeadh tú in ann gnéas a bheith agat tar éis sé go ocht seachtaine. Seachain gnéas láidir agus poist níos iomarcaí.
An mbeidh gá le hip nua eile agam?
Sa lá atá inniu ann, maireann an chuid is mó de na hippie 20 bliain nó níos mó. Má tá tú níos sine, d'fhéadfadh do chnoic nua maireachtáil do shaol. Má tá tú níos óige, b'fhéidir go mbeidh gá le hip nua agat ag pointe éigin.
Tá máinliacht athbhreithnithe níos casta agus níos amanna don máinliachtóir ná an chéad athsholáthar hip agus is gnách go mbíonn rátaí deacrachta níos airde. Ní féidir é a dhéanamh i ngach othar. Mar sin féin, tá an modh seo i bhfad níos rathúla ná mar a bhí sé agus déanann an chuid is mó de na daoine a bhfuil cead acu é a úsáid é a úsáid ar feadh 10 mbliana nó níos mó.
Ag tabhairt aire do do chnámh nua
Le cúram, ba chóir go mairfeadh do chnoic nua go maith. Cabhróidh na leideanna seo a leanas leat aire a thabhairt do do chnoic nua:
- Ná cur do chlé níos mó ná 90° (uillinn cheart) le linn aon ghníomhaíocht.
- Seachain do chúl a chraobhú.
- Ná rothlú ar an liathróid do chos.
- Nuair a thiocfaidh tú ar ais, a dhéanamh céimeanna beaga.
- Ná cuir brú ar an ghleann sna céimeanna tosaigh (mar sin déan iarracht gan dul ar do thaobh).
- Ná trasna do chosa thar a chéile.
- Ná cuir brú ar an gcliabhán ná ná déan aon rud a fhágann go mbraitheann do chliabhán míchompordach.
- Seachain cathaoireacha íseal agus suíocháin toileáin (tá suíocháin toileáin ardaithe ar fáil).
Tá feabhas á dhéanamh ar an máinliacht athsholáthair hip ar roinnt bealaí:
- Tá ábhair nua, níos láidre le haghaidh próitéisí á bhforbairt a ligfidh caitheamh níos faide agus soghluaisteacht chomhpháirteach níos fearr.
- Tá feabhsuithe á ndéanamh ar phlandaí nua 'gan ciment'. Is féidir le hothair a mholadh le haghaidh cineálacha níos nuaí de chomhpháirteanna, mar shampla ceirmeach-ar-ceirmeach agus ceirmeach-ar-plástach.
- Úsáidtear cineál nua máinliachta íosta ionrach uaireanta chun méid an inscne máinliachta a laghdú.


The Simien Mountains National Park
The Simien Mountains National Park is located in the northern edge of the central plateau of Ethiopia overlooking the Tekeze Gorge. It is a part of Simien mountains massif in Northern Ethiopia, which lies at elevations between about 2000m and 4543 m of above sea label, taking in Ras Dejen, the highest peak of the Horn of Africa. The park is found in the northern parts of the North Gondar Zone of the Amhara National Regional State.
The geographic location extends from 1309’57” to 13019’58” North latitude and from 37054’48” to 38024’43” East longitude. With its present total area of about 13,178 hectare, the park lies in three woredas of the zone, namely, Debark, Adiarkay and Janamora. The Simien Mountains National Park is one of the smallest national parks in Ethiopia with a core area of around 140km2.
The Simien Mountains National Park is 130 km from Gondar, the capital of North Gondar zone of ANRS and about 882km from Addis Ababa. It covers both the highlands and the lowlands. The steep escarpments separating these two significant landscapes were formed by volcanic activities and subsequent erosion over millions of years. They give the mountain scenery spectacular appearance.
Geology of the Simien Mountains
The Simien Mountains consist of many summits of above 4000m, with the highest pick at Ras Dejen (4,543m), which is the highest point in Ethiopia and the fourth highest mountain in Africa.
Ercand pointed out that the dramatic landscape of the Simien Mountains is mainly the result of volcanic activity, which is 'Hawaiian- type' without pouring Lava, during the Oligocene period of Pre-Cambrian Era (approximately 40-25 million years ago). This Volcano is believed to have spread over large areas of more than 15,800 km2. The center of this Volcano must have lain in the present area of Kidus Yared Mountain, while Ras Dejen, Silki and Bwahit were part of the outer core. The very high relief energy is characteristic of the whole area and Hurni and Ercand pointed out that the geomorphic landforms of the area could be categorized in to four landscape units. These are:
- The deeply incise lowland valley, which is below 2000m because of water erosion and/or the formation of frost or ice on a surface;
- The lowland terraces, roughly at 2000m, which consists of the essential cultivation and settlement areas;
- The extreme steep escarpment between 2000-4000m, extending in a south-west to north eastern direction, which forms the man and the wildlife habitats;
- The highland plains with river valleys, south of the escarpment which is ranging from 3200m-3700m, representing a densely settled and cultivated area, intensively used for cultivation and livestock grazing.
Climate in the Simien Mountains
The Simien Mountains are characterized by one season rainy with high amounts between June and September. In Simien Mountains the daily temperature varies between 18c annual mean at 2600m to about 20c on the highest peak, Ras Dejen, at 4,543m. Rainfall also varies between less than 1,000 mm in the lowlands and more than 1,500mm in the highlands. In Gich Camp (3600m), the mean annual temperature and annual rainfall are 7.70c and 1,515mm respectively. There are often dry winds during the day. Frost may occur at night. Hail and snow that fails on the highest points of above 3800m (including the summit of Ras Dejen) results in ice, which may remain for several days.
Wildlife in the Simien Mountains
The Simien Mountains National Park has international significance because of its biodiversity, highest number of endemic species and outstanding biophysical features (Hurni, 2000:191). There are major wildlife species which are either unique to the region or to particular ecosystem within the region, as well as these species playing major or vital ecological function (Ercond, 2006:22). In the Simien Mountains National Park the Gelada Baboon (Theropitcus Gelada], which is also known as 'The Bleeding heart Baboon', Walya Ibex (CapraIbex Walie), Ethiopian Wolf (Canis Simiensis) formerly known as the Simien Fox, klipspringer (Creatragus Oreotragus) are found. Some of them are endemic to the national park [like Walya Ibex and Simien Fox] where as the others are endemic to Ethiopia. Walya ibex has now become a national symbol and endemic to the Simien Mountains National Park. It is one of the most highly endangered mammal species in the world and is threatened by extinction due to low members and very restricted area of remaining habitat.
Vegetation in the Simien Mountains
The Simien Mountains are generally rich in plant diversity. So far, over 20 plant species are recorded to be endemic, of which three of them are only endemic to Simien Mountains. These include Festuca Gilbertina (Which is only found in Gich plateau), Rosularia Simiensis and Dianthus Longiglumi.
Preserving of the national park in the Simien Mountains has direct value for regional biodiversity with high potential for natural recovery of vegetation and wildlife.
According to Ercand (2006:16), the vegetation of the Simien Mountains have correlation with altitudinal ranges. Hence, there are three belts. These are discussed as follows:
- Afro-alpine steppe Belt
- It occurs within an altitudinal range of 3700m and above. In this belt dominant species such as Giant Lobelia (Lobelia Thrynochopetlum), Danthonia, Festula, Pentaschistics, Agrostics and Poa Simiensis are found. There is also a colorful patching with the red and yellow flowers of the so-called 'Red hot poker' (kniphofia foliosa and kniphofia comosa), and Silvery Strawflowers called 'Everlastings' (Helichriysum species), which complete the picture of this high alpine zone.
- Sub-alpine highland Belt (Ericaceous belt)
- This belt does not correspond to the altitudinal range of similar forest on the mountains of tropical East Africa though it covers on altitudinal range of 3000m-3800m. This belt lies on the escarpment areas, but scattered Erica forests are found on the high plateau areas. This vegetation includes Ericarborea, Ericatrimera (mainly in the cliffs), Hypericum revolutium and scattered lobelia spcies. Another remarkable plant native to the Simien mountans are species of Rosa genus (the Abyssinian wild Rose commonly called Rosa Abyssinica) and Giante sphere Thistle (Echinops giganleum). Festuca macrophylla and Festula abyssinica are the characteristic grasses in the mountains. There are also mosses (Grimmiaceae) and lichen usnea species.
- Afro Montane forest Belt
- This forest belt covers an altitudinal range of 200m-3000m. It extends from the less steep parts of the escarpments to lowland plateau at the northern end and the western side (the newly include Limalimo Wildlife Reserve). Here, the biodiversity is much higher than on the highland plateau, and one can easily find more than 20 species of trees. The most common trees are Juniperous procera, Hagenia Abyssinica, Olean Choysophylla, Cordia Africana, Ficus Species and Szgium Guineense. The other smaller trees and plants include: Solanum species, Rosa Abyssinica, Primula Verticillata, and species of Alchemilla, Thymus and Urtica.
History of the Simien Mountains National Park
The original inhabitants of the highlands of the Simien Mountains are Ethiopian Jews known as 'Felasha'. After the decline of the Jewish Kingdom in the 14th Century, many of the Ethiopia Jews were converted to the Orthodox Christian Faith. Areas to south of the Debark, Ambaras-Chenneck foot path were given 'Rist' land to the Christian while those located further north were given to the Muslims. Until the 1990s, there were some Felasha settlers in the Simien area. Most of them immigrated to Isreal between 1988 and 1991. The last residents left in 1998.
The world heritage committee inscribed the Simien Mountains National Park in the world Heritage List, thus ensuring the park an international status. The same writer pointed out that the main reasons for establishing a national park in Simien were the following:
- Simien is the only place, where the endemic animals (like Walya Ibex, Simien Fox etc) are found;
- Many other endemic and/or highly endangered species can be found in Simien due to its topographic and biological diversity;
- Due to its topographic ruggedness, comparatively large forest stands, some in a more or less virgin state, still exist;
- With its unique topography, abundance of fauna and flora, and its traditional peasant farming system, the area has a high potential for tourism.
Although the idea of conserving and protecting the park is long years ago, the formal management of the Simien Mountains National Park is started much more recently with the establishment of the first national institution: Department of Forestry, Game and Fishery within the then Ministry of Agriculture, in 1944.
Some Ethiopian National Parks become very popular because they are near to historical sights making it easy to visit a park on route to historical sights. For example, a Sofamor cave is found near to Bale Mountain National Park, which helps this park to be visited easily. The Simien Mountains National Park also found on route to the ancient historical cities of and cultural centers of Axum, Lalibela and Gonder.
Prior to 1960s, the Simien Mountains National Park has been used as 'controlled' hunting area. It was often regarded as a Royal Hunting Ground (Hurni, 2000:19). Later, with increasing land use pressures and hunting activities in the country, the need to conserve the resources through establishment of wildlife conservation areas became apparent.
Until 1977, Expatriate Wardens who have been supported by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the American Peace Corps (Ercand, 2006) have led the management of the park. In July 1977 Ethiopia ratified the world Heritage Conservation and in 1978, based on a proposal by the Ethiopian government, the world Heritage Committee of UNESCO placed the Simien Mountains National Park on its list of World Heritage Sites together with other five Ethiopian sites such as Harar Jegol,Axum Obelisk, Lalibela RockHewn church, Sofamore Cave and the Castle of Fasil.
Other places, such as the ruins of Axum or the church of lalibela, are listed due to their cultural value, whereas the Simien Mountains National Park is listed solely on the merit of its natural richness and outstanding beauty. Based on the request from the regional government, in 1994, United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) began planning a road from Debark to Janamora woreda through the park area. Later, UNCDF withdrew from the Road Project in 1996 because it concerns for environment, particularly for the park security. Despite this, however, the road was constructed by the government of ANRS [Ercand, 2006). The ADA reports of 1997 indicated that the Simien Mountains Nature Oriented Tourism Development Project (SMNOTDP) was initiated through the technical and financial assistance of the Austrian government with major objectives to enhance elaboration of management plan for the park and to implement the annual operation plans.

Páirc Náisiúnta Sléibhte Simien
Tá Páirc Náisiúnta Sléibhte Simien suite i ndeisceart an phlátaigh lárnach san Aetóip ag breathnú thar Chló Tekeze. Tá sé mar chuid de mhaisif sléibhte Simien i dTuaisceart na hEitiopáie, atá suite ag airde idir thart ar 2000m agus 4543m os cionn na farraige, ag glacadh le Ras Dejen, an barr is airde ar Chorn na hAfraice. Tá an pháirc le fáil i gcodanna thuaidh de Chrios Gondar Thuaidh de Stát Réigiúnach Náisiúnta Amhara.
Tá an suíomh geografach ó 130957 go 1301958 Leithid Thuaidh agus ó 3705448 go 3802443 Leithid an Oirthir. Le a limistéar iomlán reatha de thart ar 13,178 heicteár, tá an pháirc suite i dtrí bhfreagra den chrios, is é sin, Debark, Adiarkay agus Janamora. Tá Páirc Náisiúnta Sléibhte Simien ar cheann de na páirceanna náisiúnta is lú san Aetóip le croílár thart ar 140km2.
Tá Páirc Náisiúnta Sléibhte Simien 130 km ó Gondar, príomhchathair chrios Gondar Thuaidh ANRS agus thart ar 882 km ó Addis Ababa. Clúdaíonn sé na háiteanna ard agus na háiteanna íseal araon. Cruthaíodh na scarpts géar a scarann an dá tírdhreach suntasach seo trí ghníomhaíochtaí bolcánacha agus creimeadh ina dhiaidh sin thar na milliúin bliain. Tugann siad cuma iontach don radharc sléibhe.
Geolaíocht na Sléibhte Simien
Tá go leor barr os cionn 4000m ar Sléibhte na Simien, agus an pic is airde ag Ras Dejen (4,543m), is é an pointe is airde san Aetóip agus an ceathrú sléibhte is airde san Afraic.
Thug Ercand le fios go bhfuil tírdhreach drámatúil na Sléibhte Simien mar thoradh ar ghníomhaíocht bholcánach, atá 'de chineál Haváí' gan Lava a dhoirteadh, le linn thréimhse Oligocene Ré Ré Ré Ré Ré-Cambrian (thart ar 40-25 milliún bliain ó shin). Creidtear go bhfuil an Ghluach seo scaipthe ar limistéir mhóra de níos mó ná 15,800 km2. Ní mór go raibh lár an Bholcáin seo sa limistéar reatha de Mhontair Kidus Yared, agus bhí Ras Dejen, Silki agus Bwahit mar chuid den chroí seachtrach. Tá an fuinneamh ard-réige tréithúil don limistéar iomlán agus thug Hurni agus Ercand le fios gur féidir na cruthanna talún geomorfacha sa cheantar a chatagóirú i gceithre aonad tírdhreacha. Is iad seo a leanas:
- an ghleann ísealchríocha a bhfuil an t-íos ag dul faoi bhun 2000m mar gheall ar éadóis uisce agus/nó ar fhoirmiú frost nó oighear ar dhromchla;
- na tairseacha ísealchríocha, thart ar 2000m, a chuimsíonn na limistéir thábhachtacha d'fheirmeoireacht agus socraithe;
- an scarp géar idir 2000-4000m, ag síneadh i dtreo an iardheiscirt go dtí an iarthuaisceart, a chruthaíonn na háitribh fir agus fiadhúlra;
- Na pláinéir ardchríocha le gleann na n-aibhne, ó dheas den scarp atá idir 3200m-3700m, a léiríonn limistéar daonra agus talmhaíochta, a úsáidtear go dian le haghaidh talmhaíochta agus féarais bheatha.
Aeráid i Sléibhte na Símeáin
Tá sé de thréimhse thirim amháin i Sléibhte Simien le méideanna móra idir Meitheamh agus Meán Fómhair. I Sléibhte Simien athraíonn an teocht laethúil idir 18C ar an meán bliantúil ag 2600m go dtí thart ar 20c ar an gcnoc is airde, Ras Dejen, ag 4,543m. Athraíonn an báisteach freisin idir níos lú ná 1,000 mm sna tuilte íseal agus níos mó ná 1,500 mm sna tuilte ard. I gcampa Gich (3600m), is é an meánteochta bliantúil agus an báisteach bliantúil 7.70c agus 1,515mm faoi seach. Is minic a bhíonn gaotha tirim ann i rith an lae. D'fhéadfadh sé go dtarlódh frost san oíche. Tá an chró agus an sneachta a chailleann ar na pointí is airde os cionn 3800m (lena n-áirítear cruinniú mullaigh Ras Dejen) ina thoradh ar oighear, a d'fhéadfadh fanacht ar feadh roinnt laethanta.
Saoil Fuar i Sléibhte na Símeáin
Tá tábhacht idirnáisiúnta ag Páirc Náisiúnta Sléibhte Simien mar gheall ar a bithéagsúlacht, an líon is airde speiceas endéamach agus gnéithe bithfheisiceacha suntasacha (Hurni, 2000:191). Tá speicis mhóra fiadhúlra ann atá uathúil don réigiún nó do éiceachóras ar leith laistigh den réigiún, chomh maith leis na speicis seo a bhfuil ról mór nó ríthábhachtach acu san éiceolaíocht (Ercond, 2006:22). Sa Pháirc Náisiúnta Sléibhte Simien tá an Gelada Baboon (Theropitcus Gelada), ar a dtugtar 'The Bleeding heart Baboon', Walya Ibex (CapraIbex Walie), Wolf Ethiopian (Canis Simiensis) ar a dtugtar an Simien Fox roimhe seo, klipspringer (Creatragus Oreotragus) le fáil. Tá cuid acu endéamach don pháirc náisiúnta [mar Walya Ibex agus Simien Fox] agus tá na cinn eile endéamach don Aetóip. Tá an Walya ibex anois ina siombail náisiúnta agus ina endemic do Pháirc Náisiúnta Sléibhte Simien. Tá sé ar cheann de na speicis mamaigh is mó atá i mbaol sa domhan agus tá sé i mbaol díothaithe mar gheall ar bhaill íseal agus limistéar an-srianta cónaithe atá fágtha.
Fléascadh i Sléibhte Simien
Tá na Sléibhte Simien saibhir i éagsúlacht plandaí de ghnáth. Go dtí seo, tá níos mó ná 20 speiceas plandaí taifeadta mar endéimeacha, agus níl ach trí cinn acu endéimeach do Sléibhte Simien. I measc na n-ainmhithe sin tá Festuca Gilbertina (nach bhfuil ach i gclúdach Gich), Rosularia Simiensis agus Dianthus Longiglumi.
Tá luach díreach ag caomhnú an pháirce náisiúnta i Sléibhte Simien do bithéagsúlacht réigiúnach le cumas ard chun plandaíocht agus fiadhúlra a athshlánú go nádúrtha.
De réir Ercand (2006:16), tá comhghaol ag plandaíocht Sléibhte Simien le raonta altitudinal. Dá bhrí sin, tá trí chrios ann. Pléitear iad seo a leanas:
- Crios Staipte Afro-Alpa
- Tá sé i réim altitudinal de 3700m agus os a chionn. Sa crios seo, tá speicis is mó a bhfuil tionchar acu ar an gcineál mar Giant Lobelia (Lobelia Thrynochopetlum), Danthonia, Festula, Pentaschistics, Agrostics agus Poa Simiensis. Tá pacáil datha freisin le bláthanna dearga agus buí den rud ar a dtugtar 'Pocer te dearg' (kniphofia foliosa agus kniphofia comosa), agus Strawflowers Silver ar a dtugtar 'Everlastings' (spéisis Helichriysum), a chomhlánaíonn pictiúr na crios ard-ailte seo.
- Crios ardchríocha fo-Alpa (crios Ericaceous)
- Ní fhreagraíonn an crios seo do raon airde foraoise den chineál céanna ar shléibhte na hAfraice Thoir thrópaiceach cé go gcumhdaíonn sé raon airde 3000m-3800m. Tá an crios seo suite ar na ceantair scarp, ach tá foraoisí Erica scaipthe ar na ceantair ardchlár. Áirítear leis an bhfásclaíocht seo Ericarborea, Ericatrimera (go príomha sna cneacha), Hypericum revolutium agus speicis lobelia scaipthe. Tá speiceas de ghineas Rosa (Rosa fiáine Abyssiniana ar a dtugtar Rosa Abyssinica go coitianta) agus Giante sphere Thistle (Echinops giganleum) ina phlandaí suntasacha eile ó thús na sléibhte Simien. Is iad Festuca macrophylla agus Festula abyssinica na féitheacha tréitheacha sna sléibhte. Tá speicis mosses (Grimmiaceae) agus lichen usnea ann freisin.
- Crios Foraoise Afro Montane
- Clúdaíonn an crios foraoise seo raon altitudinal de 200m-3000m. Tá sé ag síneadh ó na codanna níos lú géar de na escarpments go dtí an pláta talún íseal ag an taobh thuaidh agus an taobh thiar (cuimsíonn an Limalimo Wildlife Reserve nua). Anseo, tá an bithéagsúlacht i bhfad níos airde ná ar an ardchnoc ardchnoc, agus is féidir le duine níos mó ná 20 speiceas crainn a fháil go héasca. Is iad na crainn is coitianta Juniperous procera, Hagenia Abyssinica, Olean Choysophylla, Cordia Africana, Ficus Species agus Szgium Guineense. I measc na gcrann agus na bplandaí níos lú eile tá: speiceas Solanum, Rosa Abyssinica, Primula Verticillata, agus speiceas Alchemilla, Thymus agus Urtica.
Stair Pháirc Náisiúnta Sléibhte Simien
Is Giúdaigh Éitiopiúla ar a dtugtar 'Felasha' ná cónaitheoirí bunaidh na hardchríocha i Sléibhte Simien. Tar éis titim Ríocht na Giúdacha sa 14ú haois, thiontú go leor de na Giúdaigh san Aetóip go dtí an Creideamh Críostaí Orthodox. Tugadh talamh 'Rist' do na Críostaithe i gceantair ó dheas ó threo chos Debark, Ambaras-Chenneck agus tugadh iad siúd a bhí suite níos faide ó thuaidh do na Moslamaigh. Go dtí na 1990idí, bhí roinnt socraithe Felasha i gceantar Simien. D'imir an chuid is mó acu go dtí an tIosrael idir 1988 agus 1991. D'fhág na cónaitheoirí deireanach é i 1998.
Chuir an coiste oidhreachta domhanda Páirc Náisiúnta Sléibhte Simien ar Liosta Oidhreachta Domhanda, rud a chinntíonn stádas idirnáisiúnta don pháirc. Thug an scríbhneoir céanna le fios gurb iad na príomhchúiseanna a bhí ann páirc náisiúnta a bhunú i Simien na cúiseanna seo a leanas:
- Is é Simien an t-aon áit ina bhfuil na hainmhithe endemic (mar Walya Ibex, Simien Fox etc.);
- Is féidir go leor speiceas endéamach agus/nó an-bhaoite eile a fháil i Simien mar gheall ar a éagsúlacht topagrafach agus bitheolaíoch;
- Mar gheall ar a thrócaire topagrafach, tá foraoisí comparáideach móra fós ann, cuid acu i riocht níos mó nó níos lú maighdeana;
- Leis an topagraf uathúil atá aici, le go leor ainmhithe agus flóra, agus lena chóras feirmeoireachta traidisiúnta, tá acmhainneacht mhór ag an gceantar don turasóireacht.
Cé go bhfuil an smaoineamh chun an pháirc a chaomhnú agus a chosaint blianta fada ó shin, tá bainistíocht foirmiúil Pháirc Náisiúnta Sléibhte Simien tosaithe i bhfad níos déanaí le bunú an chéad institiúid náisiúnta: Roinn Foraoiseachta, Seice agus Iascaigh laistigh de Aireacht Talmhaíochta an tráth sin, i 1944.
Tá roinnt Páirceanna Náisiúnta san Aetóip an-tóir orthu toisc go bhfuil siad gar do radharcanna stairiúla agus go bhfuil sé éasca cuairt a thabhairt ar pháirc ar bhealach chuig radharcanna stairiúla. Mar shampla, tá uaimh Sofamor le fáil in aice le Páirc Náisiúnta Bale Mountain, rud a chabhraíonn leis an bpáirc seo a chuairteáil go héasca. Tá Páirc Náisiúnta Sléibhte Simien ar fáil freisin ar an mbealach chuig na cathracha stairiúla ársa agus ionaid chultúrtha Axum, Lalibela agus Gonder.
Roimh na 1960idí, baineadh úsáid as Páirc Náisiúnta Sléibhte Simien mar limistéar fiach 'rialta'. Bhí sé i bhfad níos mó ná an t-am ar fad a bhí sé ina áit chónaithe. Níos déanaí, le brúí úsáide talún agus gníomhaíochtaí fiach a mhéadú sa tír, tháinig an gá leis na hacmhainní a chaomhnú trí cheantair chaomhnaithe fiadhúlra a bhunú.
Go dtí 1977, bhí Wardens Easaithe a bhí le tacaíocht ag an gCiste Domhanda Domhnálaíochta (WWF) agus Corps Síochána Mheiriceá (Ercand, 2006) i gceannas ar bhainistíocht an pháirc. I mí Iúil 1977 dhaingnigh an Aetóip an Coimirce Oidhreachta Domhanda agus i 1978, bunaithe ar thogra ó rialtas na hAetóip, chuir Coiste Oidhreachta Domhanda UNESCO Páirc Náisiúnta Sléibhte Simien ar a liosta de Shuíomhanna Oidhreachta Domhanda mar aon le cúig shuíomh eile san Aetóip mar Harar Jegol, Axum Obelisk, eaglais Lalibela RockHewn, Cave Sofamore agus Caisleán Fasil.
Cuirtear áiteanna eile, mar shampla scriosanna Axum nó eaglais lalibela, ar an liosta mar gheall ar a luach cultúrtha, ach cuirtear Páirc Náisiúnta Sléibhte Simien ar an liosta go heisiach ar mhaithe lena saibhreas nádúrtha agus a áilleacht iontach. Bunaithe ar iarratas ó rialtas réigiúnach, i 1994, thosaigh Ciste Forbartha Caipitil na Náisiún Aontaithe (UNCDF) ag pleanáil bóthar ó Debark go Janamora woreda trí limistéar an pháirce. Níos déanaí, tharraing UNCDF as an Tionscadal Bóthar i 1996 toisc go bhfuil imní ann faoin gcomhshaol, go háirithe maidir le slándáil an pháirce. D'ainneoin sin, áfach, rinne rialtas ANRS an bóthar a thógáil [Ercand, 2006]. Léiríodh i dtuarascálacha ADA 1997 gur tionscnaíodh an Tionscadal Forbartha Turasóireachta Oiriúnaithe ar an Dúlra i Sléibhte Simien (SMNOTDP) trí chúnamh teicniúil agus airgeadais ó rialtas na hOstaire agus na príomhchuspóirí chun forbairt plean bainistíochta don pháirc a fheabhsú agus chun na pleananna oibríochtúla bliantúla a chur i bhfeidhm.


Vail is named after the Vail Brothers, Edward and Walter. They arrived in the late 1870’s. Walter purchased the Empire Ranch, and Edward started the Vail Ranch; both became successful cattle ranchers. They also developed a large silver mine operation with the Total Wreck Mine in the Empire Mountains. Using profits from ranching and mining, they expanded the Empire Ranch until it stretched from the Santa Rita Mountains to the Mexican Border, between the Santa Cruz and San Pedro Rivers.
In 1880, train tracks were laid down east of Tucson. Walter Vail donated the land for the tracks and in recognition of that donation had the stop in “Vail” named after him. Although Vail was christened as a town in 1893, it was never incorporated. As such, the “town” of Vail has no official boundaries or legal status. It is only an area.
Located on the main tracks and road east of Tucson, the town of Vail had its heyday in the early 1900’s. In addition to being a cattle-shipping center, Vail served as the storage and loading facility for ore from the Helvetia Copper Mine. Located just southeast of what is now Corona de Tucson, the Helvetia Mind produced over 42,000 tons of ore. This ore was transported to Vail by heavy ore wagons pulled by teams of six mules. One hundred years later, the haul road is still a visible path in the desert between Vail and Corona.
The Vail School District was started in 1903 for the purpose of serving children living in Vail and the surrounding ranches. The first school was located on a knoll by the Pantano Wash on a ranch called Rancho del Lago. A few years later, the school moved to the present site of Old Vail Middle School.
With a decrease in mining activity and improvements in transportation and communication, the town of Vail dwindled from over 300 people to less than 10 people. Even though the one-room school districts of Rincon and Pantano were merged into the Vail School District, student enrollment in the Vail School District sputtered along at about 40 students.
In 1930, two sisters named Esta and Lottie Trotter arrived to live at and teach in the Vail School. For the next 25 years, they were essentially the entire teaching staff at the school.
It was not until 1955 that the Vail School was connected to an electrical grid. And, as late as 1976, there was consideration of closing the school for lack of students.
In 1980 IBM announced it was opening a huge plant in Southeast Tucson, right in the heart of the Vail School District. The coming of IBM kicked off a spurt of growth in Southeast Tucson and Vail.
By 1990, student enrollment in VSD had reached 1,000 students and growth really took off from there. The IBM facility was transformed into the top-ranked University of Arizona Science and Technology Park. Anchored by Raytheon and IBM, the Park became a vibrant employment center of over 6,000 people. The size of the Park is expected to double in the next five to ten years. The Park, Davis-Monthan Airbase, and other employment centers, combined with the attraction of Arizona sunshine, resulted in a major housing boom in Vail.
Now in 2019, the Vail community is still growing. New neighborhoods are popping up throughout Southeast Tucson, Vail, Sahuarita, Corona de Tucson, and various other unincorporated areas. Additionally, commercial developers are eyeing the area with increasing interest. The Vail School District itself currently serves approximately 14,000 students and employs over 1,900 people.

Ainmníodh Vail i ndiaidh na mBráithre Vail, Edward agus Walter. Tháinig siad go dtí an tír seo ag deireadh na 1870í. Cheannaigh Walter an Empire Ranch, agus thosaigh Edward an Vail Ranch; tháinig feirmeoirí beostoic rathúla araon. D'fhorbair siad oibríocht mhór mian airgid freisin leis an Mhian Wreck Iomlán sna Sléibhte Impireacht. Ag baint úsáide as brabús ó chothú agus mianadóireacht, leathnaigh siad an Empire Ranch go dtí go raibh sé ag síneadh ó Sléibhte Santa Rita go teorainn Mheicsiceo, idir na hIadáin Santa Cruz agus San Pedro.
Sa bhliain 1880, leagadh rianta traenach soir ó Tucson. Thug Walter Vail an talamh don rianta agus mar aitheantas don bhronntanas sin tugadh an stad i Vail ina ainm. Cé gur baisteadh Vail mar bhaile i 1893, níor ionchorpraíodh é riamh. Mar sin, níl teorainneacha oifigiúla ná stádas dlíthiúil ag town Vail. Níl sé ach limistéar.
Suite ar na príomh-rails agus bóthar soir ó Tucson, bhí an baile Vail ina lá breithe go luath sna 1900í. Chomh maith le bheith ina ionad loingseoireachta beorach, d'fhóin Vail mar shuíomh stórála agus luchtaithe do mhianach ó Mhian Cóipire Helvetia. Lonnaithe díreach ó dheas ó Corona de Tucson atá ann anois, d'eascair Mhin Helvetia os cionn 42,000 tonna mionn. Chuireadh an miotal seo go Vail trí charrta miotal trom a tharraing foirne de shé mhúile. Céud bliain ina dhiaidh sin, tá an bóthar iompair fós ina shlí infheicthe sa bhfásach idir Vail agus Corona.
Bunaíodh an Ceantar Scoile Vail i 1903 chun freastal ar leanaí a bhí ina gcónaí i Vail agus sna ranchais máguaird. Bhí an chéad scoil suite ar chnoc ag an Pantano Wash ar fheirm ar a dtugtar Rancho del Lago. Cúpla bliain ina dhiaidh sin, bhog an scoil go dtí an suíomh reatha de Scoil Mheán Bliain Old Vail.
Le laghdú ar ghníomhaíocht mianadóireachta agus feabhsuithe i iompar agus cumarsáid, thit baile Vail ó níos mó ná 300 duine go níos lú ná 10 duine. Cé gur cumasc na ceantair scoile aon-seomra de Rincon agus Pantano isteach i gCúige Scoile Vail, d'éirigh le clárú mic léinn i gCúige Scoile Vail ag thart ar 40 mac léinn.
Sa bhliain 1930, tháinig beirt deirfiúracha darb ainm Esta agus Lottie Trotter chun cónaí agus múineadh sa Scoil Vail. Le 25 bliain ina dhiaidh sin, bhí siad go bunúsach mar fhoireann teagaisc iomlán na scoile.
Ní raibh sé go dtí 1955 go raibh Scoil Vail ceangailte le líonra leictreach. Agus, chomh déanach le 1976, bhí breithniú ar dhúnadh na scoile mar gheall ar easpa mac léinn.
I 1980 IBM d'fhógair sé a bhí ag oscailt monarcha ollmhór i Oirdheisceart Tucson, ceart i gcroílár na Ceantar Scoile Vail. Chuir teacht IBM tús le fás i dTuaisceart Tucson agus Vail.
Faoi 1990, bhí 1000 mac léinn cláraithe i VSD agus tháinig fás i ndáiríre as sin. Athraíodh saoráid IBM go dtí an Ollscoil Arizona Sains agus Teicneolaíochta Páirc. Arna chur i bhfeidhm ag Raytheon agus IBM, tháinig an Páirc ina ionad fostaíochta beoga le breis agus 6,000 duine. Táthar ag súil go dtiocfaidh méadú ar mhéid an Pháirce laistigh de chúig go deich mbliana. Mar thoradh ar an bPáirc, Davis-Monthan Airbase, agus ionaid fostaíochta eile, in éineacht le mealladh na gréine Arizona, tháinig borradh mór tithíochta i Vail.
Anois in 2019, tá pobal Vail fós ag fás. Tá comharsanachtaí nua ag teacht chun cinn ar fud Oirdheisceart Tucson, Vail, Sahuarita, Corona de Tucson, agus ceantair neamhchuibhithe éagsúla eile. Ina theannta sin, tá forbairtí tráchtála ag féachaint ar an gceantar le spéis mhéadaithe. Tá thart ar 14,000 mac léinn ag Dúiche na Scoile Vail féin faoi láthair agus tá breis agus 1,900 duine fostaithe.


Walls almost always need some surface preparation before you can start painting. Even brand-new plaster needs sealing. You should fill any cracks and holes and make sure all surfaces are clean, smooth and dry. You can paint over emulsion-painted surfaces that are in good condition, but make certain you strip back or sand off any peeling paint.
Always wear a dust mask while you're sanding. With old paint, there can be an extra risk of breathing in poisonous lead dust. If you're in any doubt, use a simple lead testing kit. If there is lead, use a specially formulated liquid sander instead. It's also a good idea to put on some safety goggles to protect your eyes.
Also remember to wear protective goggles and masks when cutting or sawing metal. Clear away all metal dust and small pieces before starting work again.
The difference between a good and bad paint job usually depends on how carefully you prepare the surface.
No paint can properly mask grubby or uneven surfaces, so make sure you remove any dirt, grease and loose or flaking material, fill any holes and repair defects. There may even be areas that need touching up on new surfaces.
Washing your surface
You should always wash a previously painted surface before painting over it. The less dirt or grease on a surface, the better your final paint job will look.
Grease, nicotine stains, children's drawings and finger marks can all be taken off with sugar soap. Some sugar soaps come in a dissolvable powder or pre mixed liquid form.
Ensure you wear safety goggles and gloves when using sugar soap as it can irritate your skin.
Apply this with an old (clean) paintbrush or sponge, working into the surface as if you were washing the dishes. Leave the solution for a few minutes before rinsing off with clean tap water and sponge. Not only does the sugar soap clean the surface, it also provides a better surface for the paint to adhere to
In older houses, you still sometimes find distemper. This old-fashioned emulsion is often dusty or powdery to the touch, and rubs off as you wash the surface. It's not a good idea to paint or wallpaper over it, as neither will stick. Instead, try to wash and scrape off as much as possible, and then seal the wall with a stabilising solution.
Sanding creates a smooth, even foundation that massively improves your final finish. It also gives a slight roughness (known as a 'key') that helps primer or paint to adhere to. On stripped plaster, sanding can level out any repairs and remove stubborn traces of old wallpaper or paste.
When sanding the surface of the walls use a smaller grade/grit of paper. The grades of wallpaper are based around the finish you are aiming for. For example a 70 grade paper is great for quickly removing excessive debris; however it will leave a rough surface. A higher grade will give a finer finish on more delicate surfaces. For this task we would recommend a multi-purpose sandpaper such as a 70 grade, we also offer mix grade sandpaper packs which are great for a variety of different projects.
When sanding, use a sanding block and wrap the sandpaper around it, this will ensure you cover an even surface. Sand the surface in circular motions covering all areas. If you are smoothing rough surfaces, run your hand over the area to check if it’s smooth and matches the rest of the area.
When sanding wood, try to work in the direction of the grain. Work from a lower grade sandpaper and finish with a higher one. This will create a smoother finish to paint over. Sanding wood creates a lot of dust, so make sure you wear a dust mask and eye protection, have plenty of ventilation and cover anything vulnerable with dust sheets. When you've finished, you'll also need to dust down the whole sanded surface from ceiling to floor, and vacuum it thoroughly. If you don’t, you risk wood particles sticking to freshly painted surfaces.
You won't need to prime a surface that's been painted before and is in good condition - washing and light sanding are usually enough. However, if the surface is stained with nicotine you may want to consider using a specialist primer. If the wall is freshly plastered, you will need to apply a layer of primer before you paint your final coat of colour.
On a porous surface, primer stops the top coat from being absorbed, so you need fewer coats of paint to get a good coverage. On non-porous, shiny surfaces, paint often won't bond properly - so the primer gives it something to stick to. As different surfaces need different primers, make sure you choose the right one and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Water-based primers tend to give off less odour and are less damaging to the environment.
Choose a primer that will relate to your final colour, for example if your final coat will be a natural white, use a white primer. Similarly if your final colour will be a dark red, use a grey primer, this will help create an accurate final colour. Applying your primer layer is the same as if you were painting normal emulsion paint. Take your time applying even layer with a brush or roller. Work in sections across the surface and allow plenty of time for the paint to thoroughly dry as per the products instructions.
Priming for different surfaces
There are specific primers for different surfaces and applications
- Multi-purpose primers
- Wood primers
- Metal primers
- Radiator primers – these are heat resistant which is very important
- Plaster sealers – specific to newly fitted plaster board
- Specific surface primers – these can include tile primers, radiator primers and PVC primers
How to strip wallpaper
Before you begin any preparation or decoration work, it's best to clear the room as much as you can. Move any items that need to stay into the centre of the room and cover them with dust sheets. Use dust sheets to protect the floor, too.
It's also a wise move to soak the paper on the wall with hot water, as this makes it much easier to remove. You'll find the water soaks in more easily if you cut the paper first by scoring it with the blade of a stripping knife, or you could run an orbital scorer over the surface. But make sure your stepladder is stable when you're tackling the higher sections.
Top tip - Wallpaper stripper solution
Specially formulated wallpaper stripper solution will help you remove the paper without steaming.
Start by running an orbital scorer over the paper, taking care not to damage the plaster behind it. Fill a bucket with hot water, adding some liquid detergent and a handful of wallpaper paste to thicken it a little.
Wet the wall with a large sponge, covering a few square metres at a time, and leave it to soak in for at least five minutes. Then slide the edge of a wide stripping knife under the paper at a seam to see if it's ready to be stripped. It should come away in fairly large sections. If this doesn't happen even after a long and thorough soak, you'll need to use wallpaper stripper or a steam stripper.
Hold the stripper pad at the bottom of a length of wallpaper for a minute or so until the paper around it appears damp. Then move the pad up onto the next section while pulling off the damp paper below - loosening stubborn areas with a stripping knife. Strip each length from bottom to top, being really careful not to damage the plasterboard or plaster with the blade of your stripping knife.
How to strip cork tiles
Removing cork tiles is easy - you just lever them off the wall with a large stripping knife. The problem is the adhesive they leave behind, that's still firmly attached to the wall.
The best way to get rid of this is to soften it with an electric hot-air gun (also known as a hot-air stripper). It's much safer than a blowtorch, because there's no naked flame - it simply blasts hot air. Scrape the adhesive from the surface while it's still soft, using the stripping knife.

Is minic a theastaíonn ullmhúchán dromchla éigin ó bhallaí sula dtosaíonn tú ag péint. Fiú plaisteach úrnua gá sé a shéaladh. Ba cheart duit aon sceitheadh agus poll a líonadh agus a chinntiú go bhfuil gach dromchla glan, réidh agus tirim. Is féidir leat péint a dhéanamh thar dromchlaí péinteáilte atá i riocht maith, ach bí cinnte go ndéanann tú aon péint a bhíonn ag casadh a bhaint nó a scriosadh.
Bain masc deataigh i gcónaí agus tú ag scriosadh. Le péint shean, d'fhéadfadh go mbeadh riosca breise ann go n-éireoidh tú le deannach luaidhe nimhiúil. Má tá aon amhras ort, bain úsáid as trealamh tástála luaidhe simplí. Má tá luaidhe ann, bain úsáid as sliotán leachta a rinneadh go speisialta ina ionad. Is maith an smaoineamh é freisin roinnt spéaclaí sábháilteachta a chur ort chun do shúile a chosaint.
Cuimhnigh freisin gloine cosanta agus masc a chaitheamh nuair a bhíonn miotail á ghearradh nó á sciú. Glan gach duslach miotail agus píosaí beaga amach sula dtosaíonn tú ag obair arís.
De ghnáth, is é an difríocht idir obair péinteála maith agus droch-phéinteáil ná cé chomh cúramach agus a ullmhaíonn tú an dromchla.
Ní féidir le péint dromchlaí nó dromchlaí neamhchothrom a dhíchumasú go cuí, mar sin déan cinnte go mbainfidh tú aon salachar, saill agus ábhar scaoilte nó scaoilte a bhaint, aon poll a líonadh agus lochtanna a dheisiú. D'fhéadfadh go mbeadh réimsí ann a theastaíonn uathrú a dhéanamh orthu.
Ag glanadh do dhromchla
Ba chóir duit dromchla a nigh a ghlanadh i gcónaí sula ndéantar an dromchla a nigh thar a chéile. An níos lú salachar nó saill ar dromchla, is fearr a bheidh an dath deiridh atá agat.
Is féidir saill, spotaí nicotine, líníochtaí leanaí agus rianta méara a bhaint le gallúnach siúcra. Tagann roinnt gallúnach siúcra i bhfoirm púdar insliú nó i bhfoirm leachtach réamhmheascáilte.
Déan cinnte go n-úsáidfidh tú gloine sábháilteachta agus lámhainní nuair a bheidh an t-seapán siúcra á úsáid agat mar go bhféadfadh sé do chraiceann a chrathadh.
Cuir an t-ábhar seo ar an bpraghas le sean-bhruis (glan) nó spúnóg, ag obair isteach sa dromchla amhail is go raibh tú ag ní na miasa. Fág an réiteach ar feadh cúpla nóiméad sula sracfar é le huisce glan agus spúnóg. Ní hamháin go ndéanann an gallúnach siúcra glanadh an dromchla, soláthraíonn sé dromchla níos fearr don péint a chloí leis
I dtithe níos sine, is féidir leat distemper a fháil uaireanta. Is minic a bhíonn an t-eimhlú seo sean-aimseartha deatach nó púdarúil ar an teagmháil, agus scuabann sé an dromchla nuair a bhíonn tú ag ní. Ní smaoineamh maith é péint nó páipéar balla a chur thar, mar ní greamaíonn an dá cheann. Ina áit sin, déan iarracht an oiread agus is féidir a ní agus a scrabhadh, agus ansin an balla a shéaladh le tuaslagán cobhsaitheach.
Cruthaíonn an greimréad bonn réidh, cothrom a fheabhsaíonn go mór do chríochnú deiridh. Tugann sé beagán garbhta freisin (ar a dtugtar 'clé') a chabhraíonn le primer nó péint cloí leis. Ar giostais a scaoiltear, is féidir le scriosadh aon dheisiú a chothromú agus rianta stuama sean-phéipéar balla nó greamaigh a bhaint.
Nuair a bhíonn dromchla na mballaí á scriosadh, bain úsáid as grád/grit níos lú páipéir. Tá na gráid páipéar balla bunaithe ar an chríochnú atá tú ag díriú air. Mar shampla, tá páipéar 70 grád iontach chun dromchla iomarcach a bhaint go tapa; áfach, fágfaidh sé dromchla garbh. Tabharfaidh grád níos airde críochnú níos fíneáil ar dromchlaí níos déine. Chun an tasc seo ba mhaith linn a mholadh ar an ilchuspóir sandpaper mar a 70 grád, cuirimid freisin pacáistí grád sandpaper meascán a bhfuil iontach do éagsúlacht na dtionscadal éagsúla.
Nuair a bhíonn tú ag sciathú, bain úsáid as bloc sciathála agus cas an páipéar sciathála timpeall air, déanfar é seo chun a chinntiú go gcumhdaíonn tú dromchla cothrom. Déan an dromchla a shéaladh i ngluaiseachtaí ciorclacha a chlúdaíonn na limistéir go léir. Má tá tú ag sleamhnú dromchlaí garbh, rith do lámh thar an limistéar chun a sheiceáil an bhfuil sé réidh agus go gcomhlíonann sé an chuid eile den limistéar.
Nuair a bhíonn an adhmad á scriosadh, déan iarracht oibriú i dtreo na gráin. Oibrigh ó pháipéar sclábhaithe grád níos ísle agus críochnaigh le ceann níos airde. Cruthaíonn sé seo críochnú níos réidh le péint a dhéanamh air. Tá go leor deannaigh ag baint le crainn a ghlanadh, mar sin déan cinnte go n-úsáideann tú masc deannaigh agus cosaint súl, go bhfuil go leor aerála ann agus go gcumhdaíonn tú aon rud leochaileach le bileoga deannaigh. Nuair a bheidh tú críochnaithe, beidh ort freisin a dust síos an dromchla sliotán iomlán ó uasteorainn go dtí urlár, agus vacuum go maith é. Mura ndéanann tú amhlaidh, tá tú i mbaol go mbeidh píosaí adhmaid ag greamaithe ar dhromchlaí atá péinteáilte go úr.
Ní gá duit dromchla a phriontáil a bhfuil péint déanta roimhe sin agus atá i riocht maith - is gnách go mbíonn glanadh agus greimadh éadrom go leor. Mar sin féin, má tá an dromchla clúdaithe le nicotine, b'fhéidir gur mhaith leat smaoineamh ar phríomh-chomhchláir speisialaithe a úsáid. Má tá an balla plástaithe go úr, beidh ort sraith de phraiméir a chur i bhfeidhm sula ndéanann tú do chúlra deiridh datha a péint.
Ar dromchla porous, stopann an chéad chiseal barr ó bheith ionsú, mar sin ní gá duit níos lú ciseal de péint chun clúdach maith a fháil. Ar dromchlaí neamh-poróiseacha, gleansacha, ní cheanglaíonn péint go minic i gceart - mar sin tugann an chéad-phríomhán rud éigin dó chun greamaigh air. Toisc go dteastaíonn priomhaireanna éagsúla ó uachtar éagsúla, déan cinnte go roghnaíonn tú an ceann ceart agus go leanann tú treoracha an mhonaróra. Tá claonadh ag na príomhthionscnamh atá bunaithe ar uisce níos lú boladh a thabhairt agus tá siad níos lú díobhálach don chomhshaol.
Roghnaigh príomhthionscadal a bhaineann le do dhath deiridh, mar shampla má tá do chúntas deiridh bán nádúrtha, bain úsáid as príomhthionscadal bán. Ar an gcaoi chéanna, má tá do dhath deiridh dearg dorcha, bain úsáid as príomhaire liath, cabhróidh sé seo le dath deiridh cruinn a chruthú. Tá an tsraith tosaigh a chur i bhfeidhm mar an gcéanna má bhí tú ag péint ghinearálta éimlíochta a péint. Tóg do chuid ama chun ciseal comhionann a chur i bhfeidhm le scuab nó le rolla. Déan an obair i gcodanna ar fud an dromchla agus lig go leor ama don péint a thriomú go maith de réir treoracha na dtáirgí.
Príomh-uirlisí le haghaidh dromchlaí éagsúla
Tá príomhthionscnamh ar leith ann do dhromchlaí agus d'iarratais éagsúla
- Príomh-úsáide ilchuspóire
- Príomh-leathanna adhmaid
- Príomh-mhéideanna miotail
- Tá priomhairí radaitheora  resistant teasa atá an-tábhachtach
- Sealaithe giosta  sonrach do phláta giosta nua-fheistithe
- Príomhchláirí dromchla sonracha  is féidir iad seo a áireamh i measc priomhchláirí tíle, priomhchláirí raideora agus priomhchláirí PVC
Conas páipéar balla a bhaint
Sula dtosaíonn tú ar aon obair ullmhúcháin nó maisiúcháin, is fearr an seomra a ghlanadh chomh fada agus is féidir leat. Seol aon earraí a chaithfidh fanacht i lár an tseomra agus clúdaigh iad le bileoga deataigh. Úsáid sciatháin deataigh chun an urlár a chosaint freisin.
Is beart ciallmhar é freisin an páipéar ar an mballa a shéideadh le huisce te, mar go ndéanann sé seo a bhaint i bhfad níos éasca. Gheobhaidh tú go bhfuil an t-uisce ag dul isteach níos éasca má ghearrann tú an páipéar ar dtús trí scóráil a dhéanamh air le scian a bhaint, nó d'fhéadfá scórálaí orbital a rith thar an dromchla. Ach déan cinnte go bhfuil do chéimchraobhsaí nuair a bhíonn tú ag dul i ngleic leis na codanna níos airde.
Ceann uachtarach - Slíotán striptóir páipéar balla
Cabhróidh réiteach speisialta a foirmliú le páipéar balla a bhaint gan an páipéar a steamhadh.
Tosaigh ag rith scórálaí orbital ar an bpáipéar, ag tabhairt aire gan damáiste a dhéanamh don giosta taobh thiar de. Líon buidéal le huisce te, ag cur roinnt glantacháin leachtach agus dornán de phaiste páipéir balla chun é a thiúsú beagán.
Cuir spúnóg mór ar an mballa, ag clúdach cúpla méadar cearnach ag an am, agus lig dó dul isteach ar feadh cúig nóiméad ar a laghad. Ansin sleamhnaigh imeall scian leathan a bhaint faoin pháipéar ag seam chun a fheiceáil an bhfuil sé réidh le bheith ag baint as. Ba chóir go dtiocfadh sé amach i gcodanna go leor mór. Mura dtarlóidh sé seo fiú tar éis socadh fada agus críochnúil, beidh ort stripeoir páipéar balla nó stripeoir gaile a úsáid.
Coinnigh an pad stiúrtha ag bun fad páipéar balla ar feadh nóiméad nó mar sin go dtí go mbeidh an páipéar timpeall air fliuch. Ansin bog an pad suas ar an gcéad chuid eile agus an páipéar fliuch thíos á tharraingt - ag scaoileadh na limistéir stuama le scian stripping. Déan gach fad a shruthlú ó bhun go barr, agus bí cúramach gan damáiste a dhéanamh don phláta giosta nó don giosta le sciath do scian scrúdaithe.
Conas ticéid cork a bhaint
Tá sé éasca ticéid cork a bhaint - ní gá duit ach iad a bhaint ón mballa le scian mór. Is é an fhadhb ná an greamaitheach a fhágann siad ina dhiaidh, atá fós ceangailte go daingean leis an mballa.
Is é an bealach is fearr chun é seo a fháil amach ná é a mhaolú le gunna aer te leictreach (ar a dtugtar stripper aer te freisin). Tá sé i bhfad níos sábháilte ná an t-amhrán, toisc nach bhfuil aon lasair naked - sé ach blasts aer te. Scrape an greamaitheach ón dromchla cé go bhfuil sé fós bog, ag baint úsáide as an scian stripping.


Lesson 1 : Physical and Agricultural Geography of Kenya (Grade 7)
Using Google Earth and some custom digital maps, students will explore the physical and agricultural geography of Kenya in East Africa. An engaging "flight" along a portion of the Rift Valley in Tanzania and Kenya will highlight some of the spectacular landforms associated with Plate Tectonics in this area.
Students will explore several maps of the population distribution and precipitation climatology of Kenya. Students will investigate the concept of moisture availability (average annual precipitation divided by potential evaporation) as it applies to the spatial distribution of crop failure risks in Kenya.
Students will learn the major cash crops of Kenya and discover their spatial distributions. Lastly, using recent simulations from an NSF-funded research project at Michigan State University (www.clip.msu.edu), students will explore the impact of climate change on the agricultural geography of Kenya from present conditions to those predicted to occur by the year 2050.
Lesson 2 : Exploring the Biogeography and Agricultural Geography Near Mt. Kenya (Grade 7)
Using Google Earth, some brief web readings, several custom digital maps and numerous high-resolution satellite images, low-altitude aerial photos and ground-level pictures, students will explore the biogeography and agricultural geography of Mt. Kenya in East Africa. Using the rich database of annotated photographs (both aerial and ground-level), the students will be led on a virtual fieldtrip from the summit area of Mt. Kenya, where no trees grow, to the semi-arid, subsistence cropland zone. This virtual excursion follows the major ecological gradient in Kenya and serves as a valuable summary of the biogeography of much of East Africa.
Students will explore the biogeographic concept of life zones through brief web reading assignments and by interpreting several graphs and maps of the natural life zones on Mt. Kenya. Students will use the concept of moisture availability as a conceptual framework to interpret the spatial distribution of crop type and crop failure risks along a gradient on the eastern slopes of Mt. Kenya.
Students will learn about the major cash crops of the Mt. Kenya region (tea, coffee, rice and floriculture) and their appearance on aerial photos and in the field (from the ground-level photographs). They will discover the spatial distribution of these cash crops and relate them to the biogeographic concept of moisture availability.

Ceacht 1: Geo-eolaíocht Fisiceach agus Talmhaíochta Cheanada (Grad 7)
Ag baint úsáide as Google Earth agus roinnt léarscáileanna digiteacha saincheaptha, déanfaidh mic léinn iniúchadh ar gheo-eolaíocht fhisiciúil agus talmhaíochta Cheanada san Afraic Thoir. Beidh "liosta" tarraingteach ar feadh cuid den Rift Valley sa Tansáin agus sa Chéinia ag cur béime ar chuid de na cruthanna talún iontach a bhaineann le Tectonics Plate sa cheantar seo.
Déanfaidh mic léinn iniúchadh ar roinnt léarscáileanna de dháileadh daonra agus de chlimaitíocht na dtuiteam sa Chéinia. Déanfaidh mic léinn imscrúdú ar choincheap na fabhraí atá ar fáil (meán-ionsaí bliantúil roinnte le héadú féideartha) de réir mar a bhaineann sé le dáileadh spásúil rioscaí easpa barra sa Chéinia.
Foghlaimfidh na mic léinn na príomh-chothúcháin airgid sa Chéinia agus faighfidh siad amach a dtráthú spásúil. Ar deireadh, ag baint úsáide as samhlacha le déanaí ó thionscadal taighde arna maoiniú ag an NSF in Ollscoil Stáit Michigan (www.clip.msu.edu), déanfaidh mic léinn iniúchadh ar thionchar an athraithe aeráide ar gheografaíocht talmhaíochta na Céine ó na coinníollacha reatha go dtí na coinníollacha a bhfuiltear ag tuar go dtarlóidh siad faoi 2050.
Ceacht 2 : Taighde a dhéanamh ar an mbithghearagrafaíocht agus ar an ghearagrafaíocht talmhaíochta in aice le Mt. An Cheanada (Grad 7)
Ag baint úsáide as Google Earth, roinnt léitheoireachta gairid ar an ngréasán, roinnt léarscáileanna digiteacha saincheaptha agus go leor íomhánna satailíte ard-réitigh, grianghraif aeir ar airde íseal agus grianghraif ar leibhéal na talún, déanfaidh mic léinn iniúchadh ar bith-dhíografaíocht agus geografaíocht talmhaíochta Mt. An Chéinia san Afraic Thoir. Ag baint úsáide as an mbunachar sonraí saibhir de ghrianghraif a bhfuil annotation orthu (an aer agus an leibhéal talún araon), tabharfar turas fíorúil ar an gcúrsa do na mic léinn ó limistéar an tsúmaí Mt. An Chéinia, áit nach bhfásann aon chrainn, go dtí an limistéar leath-triomach, talamh talmhaíochta. Leanann an turas fíorúil seo an gradient éiceolaíoch is mó sa Chéinia agus is achoimre luachmhar é ar bith-cheiltíocht mhór na hAfraice Thoir.
Déanfaidh mic léinn iniúchadh ar choincheap bith-thírdhreach na gcriosanna beatha trí thorthaí gairid léitheoireachta ar an ngréasán agus trí roinnt grafacha agus léarscáileanna de na gcriosanna beatha nádúrtha ar Mt. An Chéinia. Úsáidfidh mic léinn coincheap na fabhrachta taise mar chreat coincheaptúil chun dáileadh spásúil an chineálacha barra agus rioscaí easpa barra a léiriú ar feadh gradient ar chonair thoir Mt. An Chéinia.
Foghlaimfidh mic léinn faoi na príomh-chothúcháin airgid de chuid Mt. Réigiún na Cinne (the, caife, rís agus bláthanna) agus a gcuma ar ghrianghraif aeir agus sa réimse (ó na grianghraif ar leibhéal na talún). Déanfaidh siad scaipeadh spásúil na gcultúr airgid seo a fháil amach agus iad a nascadh leis an gcoincheap bith-gheografach maidir le fáil taise.


Second Battle of Weldon Railroad, Yellow Tavern, Yellow House, Blick’s Station
18 Aug 1864
- 21 Aug 1864
Maj. Gen. G.K. Warren, USA
Lt. Gen. A.P. Hill, Maj. Gen. Henry Heth, and Maj. Gen. William Mahone, CSA
Both sides had Corps-sized forces, totaling 34,000.
The Union lost a little over 4,200, the Confederates about 1,600.
While Hancock’s command demonstrated north of the James River at Deep Bottom, the Union V Corps and elements of the IX and II Corps under Warren’s command were withdrawn from the Petersburg entrenchments to operate against the Weldon Railroad. This was the left hand of the two punches Grant was swinging at the same time.
At dawn on August 18, Warren advanced, driving Confederate pickets back until he reached the railroad at Globe Tavern. In the afternoon, Maj. Gen. Henry Heth’s division attacked and drove Ayres’s division back toward the tavern. Both sides entrenched during the night.
On August 19, Maj. Gen. William Mahone, whose division had hastily returned from north of James River, attacked with five infantry brigades, rolling up the right flank of Crawford’s division. This was not the end of things. Warren was heavily reinforced and counterattacked, and by nightfall had retaken most of the ground lost during the afternoon.
On the 20th, the Federals laid out and entrenched a strong defensive line covering the Blick House and Globe Tavern and extending east to connect with the main Federal lines at Jerusalem Plank Road. But they had lost momentum – their victory was in stretching the Confederate line rather than in breaking it.
On August 21, Hill probed the new Federal line for weaknesses but found none. With the fighting at Globe Tavern, Grant succeeded in extending his siege lines to the west and cutting Petersburg’s primary rail connection with Wilmington, North Carolina. The Confederates were now forced to off-load rail cars at Stony Creek Station for a 30-mile wagon haul up Boydton Plank Road to reach Petersburg.

An Dara Cath ar Iarnród Weldon, Taibéar Buí, Teach Buí, Stáisiún Blicks
18 Lúnasa 1864
- 21 Lúnasa 1864
An t-Major-Ginearál G.K. Warren, SAM
Leifteanant Ginearálta A.P. Hill, an t-Maj. Gen. Henry Heth, agus an t-Maj. Gen. William Mahone, CSA
Bhí fórsaí de mhéid na gCór ag an dá thaobh, 34,000 san iomlán.
Chaill an tAontas beagán os cionn 4,200, chaill na Comhdhúiteoirí thart ar 1,600.
Cé go ndearna ceannas Hancock léiriú ó thuaidh den Abhainn James ag Deep Bottom, tharraing Corps V an Aontais agus eilimintí den IX agus II Corps faoi cheannas Warren siar ó na fortrinn Petersburg chun oibriú i gcoinne Iarnród Weldon. Ba é seo an lámh chlé de na dhá punches bhí Grant swinging ag an am céanna.
Ag breacadh na maidne ar an 18 Lúnasa, chuaigh Warren ar aghaidh, ag tiomáint picéidí Comhdhúite ar ais go dtí go raibh sé ag an iarnród ag Globe Tavern. Sa tráthnóna, rinne an t-aistriúchán Henry Heth ionsaí agus thiomáin sé an t-aistriúchán Ayres ar ais i dtreo an taibhráin. Bhí an dá thaobh ag cur isteach ar an oíche.
Ar 19 Lúnasa, ionsaigh an t-Major General William Mahone, a raibh a rannán tar éis filleadh go tapa ó thuaidh de Abhainn James, le cúig bhriogáid choisithe, ag casadh suas an taobh dheas de rannán Crawford. Ní raibh sé seo an deireadh na rudaí. Bhí neart neartú agus frith-ionsaí ag Warren, agus faoi thitim na hoíche bhí an chuid is mó den talamh a cailleadh sa tráthnóna á athghabháil aige.
Ar an 20ú, leag na Cónaidhme amach agus chuir siad líne chosanta láidir a chlúdaíonn Teach Blick agus Taverna Globe agus a shíneann siar chun ceangal a dhéanamh leis na príomhlínte Cónaidhme ag Bóthar Plánc Iarúsailéim. Ach chaill siad luas  bhí a n-aistriú i líne an Choinbhinsiúin seachas é a bhriseadh.
Ar 21 Lúnasa, rinne Hill anailís ar an líne nua Chónaidhme le haghaidh laigí ach níor aimsigh sé aon cheann. Leis an troid ag Globe Tavern, d'éirigh le Grant a línte fánaíochta a leathnú go dtí an iarthar agus nasc príomh-iarnróid Petersburg le Wilmington, Carolina Thuaidh a ghearradh. Bhí ar na Cónaidhmeannaigh anois carranna iarnróid a dhí-ualach ag Stáisiún Stony Creek le haghaidh carranna 30 míle a tharraingt suas Boydton Plank Road chun Petersburg a bhaint amach.