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Lough Furnace
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Lough Furnace is located in Ireland
Lough Furnace
Lough Furnace
Location in Ireland
Location County Mayo, Ireland
Coordinates 53°55′00″N 9°34′15″W / 53.916698°N 9.570908°W / 53.916698; -9.570908
Lake type Saline Lagoon
Native name Loch na Foirnéise Error {{native name checker}}: parameter value is malformed (help)
Primary inflows Lough Feeagh, Yellow River
Primary outflows Burrishoole Channel, to Clew Bay
Catchment area Burrishoole
Basin countries Ireland
Surface area 1.5 km2 (0.58 sq mi)
Max. depth 20 metres (66 ft)
Surface elevation 4 m (13 ft)
Islands Inishower, Illanroe, Saint's Island

Lough Furnace (which means Loch na Foirnéise in Irish) is a special kind of lake in County Mayo, Ireland. It is a lagoon, which means it's a shallow body of saltwater separated from the sea by a barrier. This lake is unique because it has both fresh water and salty ocean water.

It gets fresh water from Lough Feeagh and the Yellow River. It also gets salty water from Clew Bay through the Burrishoole Estuary. This mix of waters creates a very interesting environment.

What Makes Lough Furnace Special?

Lough Furnace is known for its unusual water layers. Imagine a cake with different layers! In this lake, salty, heavy ocean water from Clew Bay flows into the deeper parts. Lighter, fresh river water then floats on top.

Why the Water Layers Don't Mix

These two layers of water are very different in weight. This difference stops them from mixing easily. Because the bottom layer stays separate, it doesn't get much fresh air. This means the deep water becomes anoxic. Anoxic means it has almost no oxygen. This is very unusual for a lake.

A Natural Lab for Scientists

Because of its unique conditions, Lough Furnace is like a natural laboratory. Scientists love to study it! They learn about how different animals live in these conditions. They also study how fish adapt to such a special environment. Scientists have even looked at the lake's history. They found that the deep water became anoxic about 3,400 years ago.

Fish and Fishing in Lough Furnace

Lough Furnace is part of the Burrishoole fishery. This means it's a place where people can fish. The lake is home to several important fish species.

What Fish Live Here?

  • Atlantic salmon: These are large, strong fish known for swimming upstream to lay their eggs.
  • Grilse: This is a term for young Atlantic salmon that have spent only one winter at sea.
  • Sea trout: These are trout that spend part of their lives in the sea before returning to fresh water.

These fish are an important part of the lake's ecosystem. They also make Lough Furnace a popular spot for anglers.

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