Lough Leane

Lough Leane (/ˈleɪn/; from Irish Loch Léin 'lake of learning')[1] is the largest of the three lakes of Killarney, in County Kerry. The River Laune flows from the lake into the Dingle Bay to the northwest.

Lough Leane
Lough Leane is located in Ireland
Lough Leane
Lough Leane
LocationKillarney, County Kerry
Coordinates52°2′30″N 9°33′0″W
Basin countriesIreland
Surface area4,700 acres (19 km2)
IslandsInnisfallen

Etymology and history

The lake's name means "lake of learning" probably in reference to the monastery on Innisfallen, an island in the lake. Innisfallen was a centre of scholarship in the early Middle Ages, producing the Annals of Innisfallen and, according to legend, educating King Brian Boru.

Another historic site, the tower house Ross Castle sits on Ross Island in the lake. Ross Island is rich in copper. Archaeological evidence suggests the island has been mined since the time of the Bronze Age Beaker People.[2][3]

Geography
Ducks on Lough Leane

Lough Leane is approximately 19 square kilometres (4,700 acres) in size.[4] It is also the largest body of fresh water in the region.[5] It has become eutrophic as a result of phosphates from agricultural and domestic pollution entering Lough Leane Reedbed, an important habitat on the edge of Lough Leane. This nutrient enrichment has caused several algal blooms in recent years. The blooms have not yet had a severe effect on the lake's ecosystem. To prevent further pollution causing a permanent change in the lake's ecosystem, a review of land use in the catchment area is being carried out.[4] Water quality in the lake appears to have improved since phosphates were removed from sewage in 1985.[6]

Wildlife

Lough Leane is a habitat for the critically endangered blunt-snouted Irish char (Salvelinus obtusus) and Killarney shad (Alosa killarnensis).

See also

References
  1. Birnbaum, Stephen (November 1990). Birnbaum's Ireland, 1991. ISBN 9780395557280.
  2. "Ross Island". nuigalway.ie. Retrieved 11 April 2014.
  3. J. P. N. Northover, W. O'Brien and S. Stos. "Lead Isotopes and Metal Circulation In Beaker/Early Bronze Age Ireland." The Journal of Irish Archaeology Vol. 10, (2001), pp. 25-47. Wordwell Ltd. Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/30001669
  4. Dúchas. "The Lakes". Archived from the original on 15 June 2007. Retrieved 1 July 2007.
  5. The Department of the Environment and Local Government. "Living with Nature: The Designation of Nature Conservation Sites in Ireland" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 1 July 2007.
  6. National Parks and Wildlife Service (5 December 2005). "Killarney National Park, Macgillycuddy's Reeks and Caragh River Catchment Site Synopsis" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 November 2007. Retrieved 1 July 2007.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.