Mongan Bog facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mongan Bog
Mongan Bog
Location	County Offaly, Ireland
Area	297 acres (1.20 km2)

Mongan Bog is a special kind of wetland called a peat bog in County Offaly, Ireland. It's located east of Clonmacnoise, which is an old monastery site near the River Shannon. A special area called a nature reserve protects about 120 hectares of the bog. That's like protecting 300 football fields!

Why Mongan Bog is Protected

Mongan Bog is a very important place for nature. It's a type of bog called a raised bog. This means it has grown over thousands of years, rising above the land around it.

Special Area of Conservation

Because it's so important, Mongan Bog was named a Special Area of Conservation in 2017. This protected area covers about 207 hectares. It helps to keep the bog's unique plants and animals safe.

Important for Birds

A much larger part of Mongan Bog is protected for its birdlife. This area is called a Special Protection Area (SPA) and covers 1,843 hectares. It's also known as an Important Bird Area. In the past, many Greenland white-fronted geese used to spend their winters here.

The Story of Mongan Bog

Mongan Bog started to form about 9,000 years ago. It grew between two long, narrow hills made of sand and gravel called eskers. For a long time, the bog stayed mostly untouched.

Saving the Bog

In the 1970s, machines were used to drain parts of the bog. This made it shrink a lot. But this problem also started a movement to protect bogs all over Ireland. People realized how important these natural places are. Today, Mongan Bog is the biggest bog in its area.

Visiting Mongan Bog

The nature reserve at Mongan Bog is looked after by An Taisce. This group works to protect Ireland's old buildings and natural places. If you are a researcher, you can visit the nature reserve by making an appointment.

Images for kids

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  Mongan Bog