Rahasane turlough facts for kids
Rahasane turlough is a very special lake in County Galway, Ireland. It's called a 'turlough' because it's not always full of water! It fills up in winter and then dries out in summer. Rahasane is the biggest turlough left in Ireland.
Quick facts for kids Rahasane turlough |
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 Location in island of Ireland
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| Location | County Galway |
| Coordinates | 53°13′32″N 8°47′15″W / 53.22556°N 8.78750°W |
| Type | turlough |
| Primary inflows | Dunkellin river |
| Basin countries | Ireland |
| Surface area | 257 ha (640 acres) |
What is a Turlough?
A turlough is a lake that forms in a special type of landscape called karst. Karst areas are made of limestone rock. This rock has many cracks and underground passages. Because of this, turloughs don't have rivers flowing out of them on the surface. Instead, the water sinks underground into the limestone.
At Rahasane, a river called the Dunkellin river flows nearby. Some of its water goes into a special underground path. This path leads into the limestone rock below the turlough.
Rahasane's Unique Features
Rahasane turlough has two main parts, or 'basins'. These basins connect when the water levels are high, like during floods. But as the water goes down, they separate.
When full, the turlough covers about 257 hectares. That's like 257 football fields! It sits between 10 and 30 meters above sea level. The area around it has wet meadows and marshes. There are also limestone rocks and bushes around the edges.
In the summer, the lake usually dries up. When it's dry, the land becomes a big pasture. Farmers let their cattle, horses, and sheep graze there.
The southern basin of Rahasane is very impressive. It has high, rocky sides. The bottom is uneven and covered with large rocks. There are also small hills nearby. One is on the south side of the main basin. Another is to the north-east, near Shanbally Castle.
Wildlife at Rahasane
Rahasane turlough is a very important place for nature. It has been named a Special Protection Area and a Special Area of Conservation. These are special titles given to places that need to be protected for their wildlife.
This turlough is a vital spot for many birds.
- Lots of birds stop here when they are migrating.
- It's a key place for white-fronted geese to spend the winter.
- It's one of the few places in Ireland where the Eurasian wigeon breeds.
- Sometimes, rare birds from America, like the American wigeon, visit.
- Birds from Europe, like the black tern, also sometimes appear here by accident.
The Fairy Shrimp
A tiny creature called the fairy shrimp (Tanymastix stagnalis) was first found in Ireland right here at Rahasane. This shrimp is very special. It can only live in temporary pools of water. It needs to be isolated from predators like fish to grow up and have babies. Since turloughs dry out, they don't have fish, making them perfect homes for these unique shrimp.
