Durnesh Lough facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Durnesh Lough |
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View of the northern part of Durnesh Lough
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 Location in island of Ireland
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| Location | County Donegal |
| Coordinates | 54°34′15″N 8°11′4″W / 54.57083°N 8.18444°W |
| Lake type | lagoon |
| Catchment area | 15.10 km2 (5.8 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Ireland |
| Max. length | 1.6 km (1 mi) |
| Max. width | 1.0 km (0.6 mi) |
| Surface area | 0.70 km2 (0.27 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 1 m (3 ft 3 in) |
| Max. depth | 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) |
| Surface elevation | 0 m (0 ft) |
Durnesh Lough is a special type of lake called a lagoon. It's found in the northwest of Ireland, right on the coast of southern County Donegal. Think of it as a calm, shallow body of water separated from the big ocean.
Contents
Where is Durnesh Lough?
Durnesh Lough is about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) north of a town called Ballyshannon. You can find it along the R231 road, just past the village of Rossnowlagh.
Size and Shape
This lagoon is roughly 1.5 kilometers (about 1 mile) long from north to south. It's also about 1.0 kilometer (0.6 miles) wide.
How the Lough Works
Durnesh Lough is separated from the sea by natural hills called drumlins and tall sand dunes. Long ago, water used to flow naturally from the lough to the sea. Now, there's a special channel built by people that lets some seawater in. A few small streams also flow into the lagoon. The water in the lough is a bit salty, but not as salty as the ocean.
Amazing Nature at Durnesh Lough
Durnesh Lough is a very important place for nature. It's part of a protected area called the Durnesh Lough Special Area of Conservation. This area includes the lagoon itself, plus the sand dunes, the beach, and even some small hills covered in sand.
Plants in the Water
Around the edges of the lough, you'll see lots of tall reeds. These include common reed, bulrush, and common clubrush. In the muddy parts of the lough, you might spot bright yellow iris, mare's tail, and reed canary-grass. Where it's stony, you can find shoreweed and more common clubrush.
Under the water, there are plants like tasselweed and beaked tasselweed. There's also a rare green alga called Chara canescens. Scientists have found many different types of tiny creatures, called invertebrates, living here too.
Animals of the Lough
Durnesh Lough is home to many fish species. These include sand goby, flounder, rudd, three-spined stickleback, and sea trout. You might also find the critically endangered European eel here. Keep an eye out for otters too, as they are often seen around the lough!
Birds of the Lough
This area is also a very important spot for birds, especially in winter. It's known as the Durnesh Lough Important Bird Area. Many different kinds of swans, like mute swan, whooper swan, and tundra swan, come here for the winter. You can also see greater white-fronted goose and several types of ducks. These birds often feed in the wet grassy areas next to the lough.
