Lough Conway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lough Conway |
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 Location in island of Ireland
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| Location | County Leitrim |
| Coordinates | 54°2′25″N 7°53′2″W / 54.04028°N 7.88389°W |
| Lake type | Freshwater |
| Native name | Loch Conbhuí Error {{native name checker}}: parameter value is malformed (help) |
| Primary inflows | Shannon–Erne Waterway |
| Primary outflows | Shannon–Erne Waterway |
| Basin countries | Ireland |
| Surface area | 0.05 km2 (0.019 sq mi) est. |
| Max. depth | 6 m (20 ft) est. |
Lough Conway (which means Conway’s Lake in Irish) is a very small freshwater lake. You can find it in the northwest part of Ireland.
Contents
What's in a Name? The Meaning of Lough Conway
The exact start of the name Lough Conway is not fully known. However, in the Irish language, Loch Conbhuí means Conway’s Lake.
Where is Lough Conway Located?
Lough Conway is in County Leitrim, Ireland. It is part of the Kiltubbrid area. The lake is connected to Drumaleague Lough by a special waterway. This connection is a 0.8 kilometres (0.5 mi) long part of the Shannon–Erne Waterway.
The lake itself is quite small. It has an oval shape. Lough Conway covers an area of about 0.06 square kilometres (0.0 sq mi). It measures about 350 metres (1,148.3 ft) from its northeast to southwest sides. The lake is also about 140 metres (459.3 ft) wide.
What Animals Live in Lough Conway?
Lough Conway is home to different types of fish. One important fish found here is the Pike. The pike in this lake are special. They are the "native Irish strain" of pike.
This means they are the original Irish type of pike. They are not the other European types of pike. The Irish name for this native pike is liús.
Protecting the Lake's Wildlife
The animals and plants in Lough Conway are facing some challenges. Other waterways in County Leitrim also face these issues. One big threat comes from zebra mussels. These are tiny invaders that can harm the lake's natural balance. They are part of a group called invasive species. These are plants or animals that are not native to an area. They can cause problems for the local wildlife.
A Look Back: The History of Lough Conway
Lough Conway has played a role in the local community's history. For a long time, the lake helped power a nearby mill.
The Old Corn Mill
Since at least the 1700s, people used a special gate called a sluice. This sluice helped save water from Lough Conway. The water was then used for a Corn Mill. This mill was located in the Kilclaremore area.
The corn mill was very important to the people living nearby. It helped them process their grain. Because it was so useful, improvements were made to the water supply. Around 1845 to 1853, a special channel was made better. This channel connected the Ulster Canal to Lough Conway. The corn mill continued to operate for many years. However, it eventually closed down in the 1900s.
People Living Near Lough Conway
Several small communities are located around Lough Conway. These areas are called townlands. To the west of the lake, you can find Kilclaremore and Drumruekill. The area called Loughconway is to the north. And Kilclaremore is also found on the south side of the lake.
