Lough Marrave facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lough Marrave |
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 Location in island of Ireland
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| Location | County Leitrim |
| Coordinates | 54°02′N 7°56′W / 54.033°N 7.933°W |
| Lake type | Freshwater |
| Native name | Loch Marbh Error {{native name checker}}: parameter value is malformed (help) |
| Primary inflows | Shannon–Erne Waterway |
| Primary outflows | Shannon–Erne Waterway |
| Basin countries | Ireland |
| Surface area | 0.1 km2 (0.039 sq mi) est. |
| Max. depth | 4 m (13 ft) est. |
| Surface elevation | 62 m (203 ft) est. |
Lough Marrave (which means "Dead lake" in Irish) is a small, freshwater lake. You can find it in County Leitrim, in the northwest part of Ireland.
Contents
What's in a Name? (Etymology)
Lough Marrave's name comes from the Irish words Loch Marbh, which means "Dead lake" or "lake of death". People wonder why it has such a name.
One idea is that the lake might have been used for ancient religious ceremonies. The famous Keshcarrigan Bowl was found nearby. Some think it was placed in the lake as a special offering.
An old book called the Book of Fenagh mentions a "cursed lake" on the way to Fenagh. A note in the book says that no fish could live in that lake. This sounds a lot like Lough Marrave. However, no one knows for sure why it's called the "Dead lake."
Where is Lough Marrave? (Geography)
Lough Marrave is located about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) northeast of Keshcarrigan village. It's also about 500 meters (0.3 miles) east of Lough Scur.
This lake is quite small and not very deep. It covers an area of about 0.1 square kilometers (0.04 square miles). Lough Marrave is so close to Lough Scur that some people think of it as a part of Lough Scur. They are at the same water level and are connected by a channel.
Lough Marrave is also connected to St. John's Lough and Lough Scur through the Shannon–Erne Waterway. This waterway is a system of canals and rivers.
Life in the Lake (Ecology)
Scientists haven't recorded what types of fish live in Lough Marrave. The health of lakes and rivers in Leitrim, including Lough Marrave, is important.
One big problem for these waterways is zebra mussels. These are tiny animals that are not native to Ireland. They can cause harm to the lake's natural plants and animals. Other non-native species can also threaten the lake's environment.
People and the Lake (Human Settlement)
The main villages near Lough Marrave are Keshcarrigan and Fenagh. The lake is surrounded by different areas of land called townlands. These include Gubroe to the south and east, Killmacsherwell to the north, and Rossy to the west.
Treasures from the Past (Heritage)
A very special item called the Keshcarrigan Bowl was found near Lough Marrave. It was discovered in the canal that connects Lough Scur and Lough Marrave. This happened sometime between 1843 and 1852.
Today, the Keshcarrigan Bowl is kept safe at the National Museum of Ireland. It is an important piece of history from the area.
