Lough Owel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lough OwelLoch Uail |
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 Location in island of Ireland
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| Location | County Westmeath |
| Coordinates | 53°34′23″N 7°23′18″W / 53.57306°N 7.38833°W |
| Lake type | Glacial lake |
| Primary outflows | River Brosna |
| Catchment area | 32.15 km2 (12.41 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Ireland |
| Max. length | 6 km (3.7 mi) |
| Max. width | 3 km (1.9 mi) |
| Surface area | 10.22 km2 (3.95 sq mi) |
| Max. depth | 21 m (69 ft) |
| Surface elevation | 97 m (318 ft) |
| Islands | 6 |
| Designated: | 7 June 1996 |
| Reference #: | 851 |
Lough Owel (which is Loch Uail in Irish) is a beautiful lake in the central part of Ireland. It's known for having a medium amount of nutrients, which means it's very healthy. You can find it just north of Mullingar, which is the main town in County Westmeath.
This lake is quite deep, reaching about 21 metres (69 ft) at its deepest point. Water from Lough Owel helps to fill the Royal Canal, a long waterway that stretches across Ireland from Dublin all the way to the River Shannon. The lake is also easy to reach, as it's very close to the main N4 road.
How Lough Owel Gets Its Water
Lough Owel is one of several lakes that feed into the River Brosna. The River Brosna is a smaller river that eventually flows into the much larger River Shannon. It passes through towns like Mullingar and Kilbeggan in Westmeath, and then Clara in County Offaly.
Lough Owel is a big, deep lake that gets its water from clear springs. This means its water is very clean and has a high pH, making it slightly alkaline.
Islands and Their Stories
Lough Owel has four main islands. The biggest one is called Church Island. It got its name because it has the old ruins of a church on it, known as St. Loman's Oratory. An oratory is a small chapel or a place for prayer.
St. Loman was a hermit, which means he lived alone on the island. People say he survived by eating wild plants called alexanders (Smyrnium olusatrum). The other three islands are Srudarra Island, Lady's Island, and Carrickphilbin Island.
There's also an old story about a Viking leader named Turgesius. It's said that he was drowned in Lough Owel in the year 845 by an Irish king named Máel Sechnaill mac Maíl Ruanaid.
Amazing Nature and Wildlife
Since 1996, Lough Owel has been recognized internationally as a Ramsar site. This means it's a very important wetland for nature. The lake and the wet areas around it are home to many different kinds of plants, including some rare ones.
The lake is also full of interesting fish. You can find different types of fish here, including some char and brown trout. It's a popular spot for anglers (people who fish with a rod and line).
Many birds live here all year round, and others visit during their migrations. The farmlands near the lake are a winter home for many white-fronted geese that come all the way from Greenland.
Because there aren't many places in the small streams for trout to lay their eggs, a local fish farm helps out. They collect trout eggs from adult fish, raise the young fish (called fry), and then release them back into the lake. This helps keep the trout population healthy.
