Lough Barra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lough Barra |
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 Location in island of Ireland
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| Location | County Donegal |
| Coordinates | 54°57′26″N 8°6′19″W / 54.95722°N 8.10528°W |
| Native name | Loch Beara Error {{native name checker}}: parameter value is malformed (help) |
| Primary inflows | River Barra |
| Primary outflows | Gweebarra River |
| Catchment area | 19.68 km2 (7.6 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Ireland |
| Max. length | 1.4 km (1 mi) |
| Max. width | 0.8 km (0.5 mi) |
| Surface area | 0.63 km2 (0.24 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 4.4 m (14 ft) |
| Max. depth | 11.6 m (38 ft) |
| Surface elevation | 90 m (300 ft) |
Lough Barra, also known as Loch Beara in Irish, is a beautiful freshwater lake. It is found in the northwest of Ireland, in County Donegal. The lake sits in a valley formed by the Gweebarra fault.
Where is Lough Barra?
Lough Barra is located about 30 kilometers (19 miles) west of Letterkenny. It is just outside the southwest corner of Glenveagh National Park. The lake is about 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) long. It is also about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) wide.
How Water Flows Through the Lake
The main river that flows into Lough Barra is the Barra River. This river enters the lake at its northern end. Water then flows out of the lake towards the south. It drains into the Gweebarra River. Lough Barra is an "oligotrophic" lake. This means its waters are very clear and have low levels of nutrients.
Amazing Animals of Lough Barra
Lough Barra is home to several types of fish. You can find brown trout and Atlantic salmon here. The lake also has the critically endangered European eel. This means the European eel is at a very high risk of disappearing forever.
Lough Barra is part of a special protected area. This area is called the Cloghernagore Bog and Glenveagh National Park Special Area of Conservation. This protection helps keep the lake and its wildlife safe.
