Lakes
Lough Neagh, Nothern Ireland
Satellite image of Lough Neagh, the largest freshwater lake in Ireland.
Image provided courtesy of Google EarthLough Neagh, Nothern Ireland
Image provided courtesy of Google Earth
Image provided courtesy of Google Earth
Lough Neagh, Nothern Ireland
Satellite image of Lough Neagh, the largest freshwater lake in Ireland.
Image provided courtesy of Google EarthThe largest lake is Lough Neagh in the north-east. 29km in length and some 18km in width, it covers a total area of 381 sq.km. Other large lakes are Lough Corrib (Co. Galway, 175 sq.km), Lower Lough Erne (Co. Fermanagh, 112 sq.km) and, on the Shannon, Loughs Derg and Ree (118 and 105 sq. km respectively).
Other important lakes include Loughs Mask and Conn, Co. Mayo, Lough Allen in the Upper Shannon, Lough Macnean in Co. Leitrim, Loughs Owel, Ennel and Derravaragh in Co. Westmeath, and the famous Lakes of Killarney in Co. Kerry. Several thousand small lakes are widely distributed, particularly in the west and in parts of the north.
Lough Owel, Co. Westmeath
An aerial photograph of Lough Owel, Co. Westmeath. Lough Owel is a spring-fed lake, 4 miles long and 2 miles wide. It lies north-west of Mullingar.
Courtesy of Ordnance Survey IrelandLough Owel, Co. Westmeath
Courtesy of Ordnance Survey Ireland
Courtesy of Ordnance Survey Ireland
Lough Owel, Co. Westmeath
An aerial photograph of Lough Owel, Co. Westmeath. Lough Owel is a spring-fed lake, 4 miles long and 2 miles wide. It lies north-west of Mullingar.
Courtesy of Ordnance Survey IrelandThese lakes are all natural creations, the result of various processes such as subsidence (Lough Neagh), limestone solution (e.g. Lough Ree) and landform change during and after the last Ice Age. In addition, there are various man-made lakes which have been constructed as reservoirs (e.g. at Roundwood, Co. Wicklow and at Silent Valley in the Mourne Mountains), or as a result of damming rivers for hydro-electric power (as at Poulaphouca, Co. Wicklow, Cathleen's Falls, near Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, and Iniscarra, Co. Cork).
The largest man-made lake is at Poulaphouca (1200 hectares as the area of Poulaphouca Reservoir), which now has a multi-use function as a reservoir for Dublin city and as a major recreational resource.
Gallery
Sailboats on Lough Ree
Colour photograph of sailboats on Lough Ree
© Ann HennesseySailboats on Lough Ree - © Ann Hennessey
Poulaphouca Lake, Co. Wicklow
This lake and reservoir are within the Special Areas of Conservation for its wild bird population. The reservoir here is one of two major sources of Dublin's water supply.
Copyright of Ordnance Survey of IrelandPoulaphouca Lake, Co. Wicklow - Copyright of Ordnance Survey of Ireland
Poulaphouca, Co. Wicklow
A photograph of Poulaphouca, Co. Wicklow.
Courtesy of M BeggsPoulaphouca, Co. Wicklow - Courtesy of M Beggs
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