3 Important facts about Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland

March 5, 2013 Marine life, Natural Wonders, Nature, Places, The Lovely Planet

Lough Neagh of Northern Ireland. Image: Mark Taggart

3 Important facts about Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland

Lough Neagh of Northern Ireland. Image by Etrusia UK

1- Lough Neagh, is sometimes also referred as Loch Neagh, is a large freshwater lake of Northern Ireland. Lough Neagh is the biggest lake in Northern Ireland, supplying 40% of its water; the biggest in Ireland, and the biggest in the British Isles.Its name comes from Irish: Loch nEathach, meaning “Lake of Eathach“. The surface area of Lough Neagh is 384km2 with an average depth pf 9m and the aggregate length of shoreline is almost 125km. Lough Neagh of Northern Ireland is the 15th largest freshwater lake within the European Union. Lough Neagh is located twenty miles (30 km) to the west of Belfast, it is approximately twenty miles (30 km) long and nine miles (15 km) wide.

Lough Neagh has magnificent refreshing spots. Image by Bobby McKay

2- Another important fact about Lough Neagh of Northern Ireland is that the louge is used for a variety of recreational and commercial activities. Lough Neagh is exposed and tends to get extremely rough very quickly in windy conditions. It is also used as a source of fresh water by the Northern Ireland Water Plans to increase the amount of water drawn from the Lough, through a new water treatment works at Hog Park Point, have long been planned but are yet to materialise. Ancient deposits in Toome Bay, an indentation of the lake on its northwestern shore, have yielded the oldest-recorded human artifacts in Ireland. Other archaeological remains have been recovered on Coney Island. In 1959 flood-control works significantly lowered the lake level.

Waterbirds at Lough Neagh . Image by jaqian@flickr — Waterbirds at Lough Neagh . Image by [email protected]

3- Lough Neagh of Northern Ireland supports a large and diverse assemblage of waterbirds throughout the year. In winter, the site is of importance for many species of diving and dabbling duck, as well as swans, geese, grebes and waders. In summer, the site supports an important assemblage of breeding seabirds, including several species of gulls and terns, as well as important numbers of Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus. The whole area around the Lough Neagh of Northern Ireland consists of scenic walks and exciting nature trails accessible in all seasons, five bird watching hides, picnic areas, a paddling pool and children’s play area. The richness of the wildflower meadows, woodlands, shoreline and open water means that there is always something special to see.