Lough Mask facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lough Mask |
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| Location | County Mayo, County Galway |
| Coordinates | 53°37′N 9°21′W / 53.617°N 9.350°W |
| Lake type | Limestone lake |
| Native name | Loch Measca Error {{native name checker}}: parameter value is malformed (help) |
| Catchment area | 938.4 km2 (362.3 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Ireland |
| Max. length | 16.1 km (10.0 mi) |
| Max. width | 6.4 km (4.0 mi) |
| Surface area | 83.43 km2 (32.21 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 15 m (49 ft) |
| Max. depth | 58 m (190 ft) |
| Water volume | 1.3 km3 (1,100,000 acre⋅ft) |
| Residence time | 0.28 years |
| Surface elevation | 20 m (66 ft) |
Lough Mask (which means Irish: Loch Measca in Irish) is a large, beautiful lake in Ireland. It's located in County Galway and County Mayo. This lake is known as a limestone lake because of the type of rock found around it.
Lough Mask is the fourth largest lake in the Republic of Ireland. It's also the sixth largest on the entire island of Ireland! The lake is about 83 km2 (32 sq mi) in size. It sits north of another big lake called Lough Corrib.
Lough Mask is part of a chain of three lakes. Water from Lough Carra flows into Lough Mask. Then, water from Lough Mask travels underground to feed into Lough Corrib. Finally, the water from these lakes flows into the River Corrib, which goes through the city of Galway and into Galway Bay.
The eastern part of Lough Mask is quite shallow and has many islands. But the western side, sometimes called Upper Lough Mask, is much deeper. It has a long, deep trench that goes down more than 50 m (160 ft)! The average depth of the lake is 15 m (49 ft), and its deepest point is 58 m (190 ft). Lough Mask holds a huge amount of water, about 1.3 km3 (1.1 million acre⋅ft). This makes it the largest by water volume in the Republic of Ireland.
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History of Lough Mask
Lough Mask has a long and interesting history. Many years ago, in 1338, a knight named Sir Edmond de Burgh sadly drowned in the lake. This happened during a conflict known as the Burke Civil War. He was captured near Ballinrobe and taken to an island in the lake called Oilean-an-lara (which means "the Earl's Island").
Later, in 1651, an Irish writer named Dáibhídh Bacach Ó Duibhgeannáin lived and worked on another island in Lough Mask. This island was called Oileán Ruadh, or 'Red Island'. He was working on a famous Irish story called 'Tóruigheacht Dhiarmada agus Ghráinne' ("The Pursuit of Diarmuid and Gráinne").
Legends of the Lake
Like many old places, Lough Mask has its own local legends. One popular story says that a banshee haunts Bly Island, a small island in the lough. A banshee is a spirit from Irish folklore, often said to be a female spirit who warns of a death in the family by wailing. People have also reported seeing a banshee around the shores of the lake. Some even talk about other strange, unexplained things happening there!
Fun Activities at Lough Mask
Lough Mask is a very popular spot for outdoor activities.
Fishing for Trout
The lake is especially famous for its trout fishing. Many people come here to catch these fish. Every year, a big event called the World Cup Trout Fly Fishing Championship takes place on Lough Mask. It's held at Cushlough Bay, which is close to Ballinrobe.
Water Sports and Adventure
If you love water sports, you'll find plenty to do here! The Petersburg Outdoor Education Center is located right on the shore of Lough Mask, near Bly Island. This center uses the lake for all sorts of exciting activities, including:
- Kayaking
- Canoeing
- Sailing
It's a great place to learn new skills and enjoy the water safely.
Interesting Facts
The name "Loch Measca" (the Irish name for Lough Mask) was used as a pen-name by an Irish writer named Séan Seoighe (John Joyce). He used it for his Irish-language memoir, Eachtra múinteóra, which was published in 1929.
