Lough Rea

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Lough Rea
Loch Riach (Irish)
Loughrea lake.jpg
Aerial view over Loughrea town towards the lake.
Ireland relief location map.png
Red pog.svg
Lough Rea
Location in Ireland
Location County Galway, Ireland
Coordinates 53°11′23″N8°34′35″W / 53.189684°N 8.576302°W / 53.189684; -8.576302
Lake type natural freshwater lough
Primary outflows Loughrea River Town Moat
Basin  countries Ireland
Max. length2.61 km (1.62 mi)
Max. width1.68 km (1.04 mi)
Surface area 3.01 km2 (1.16 sq mi)
Surface elevation81 m (266 ft)
Islands Ash Island, Shore Island, Blake's Island, Barrack Island, Middle Island, Long Island, Switch Island, Stone Island North, Stone Islands South, Island McCoo
Settlements Loughrea
References [1]

Lough Rea (Irish : Loch Riach), [2] also Loughrea Lake, is a lake in Ireland, located south of Loughrea, County Galway. [3]

Contents

Wildlife

Lough Rea is stocked with three-spined stickleback, ninespine stickleback, eel, perch, brown trout, rudd and pike. [4]

In folklore

In the tradition of other Dindsenchas myths, according to Irish tradition, Lough Rea was formed after a battle fought between pre-Christian deities, who took the form of deer. The force of their battle causing a well to burst and the lake to form. [5]

Another popular piece of folklore says that there was once a town where the lake is today, but the town was submerged underneath the water.[ citation needed ]

See also

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References

  1. "A Reference Based Typology and Ecological Assessment System for Irish Lakes" (PDF). Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland). 2006. p. 19. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  2. "Lough Rea/Loch Riach". Placenames Database of Ireland (logainm.ie). Government of Ireland - Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Dublin City University . Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  3. "Out and About". Slieve Aughty Centre.
  4. Kelly, F.L.; Connor, L.; Morrissey, E.; Coyne, J.; Matson, R.; Feeney, R.; Rocks, K. (2014). "Water Framework Directive Fish Stock Survey of Lough Rea, July 2013" (PDF). Dublin: Inland Fisheries Ireland.
  5. James MacKillop, A Dictionary of Celtic Mythology, 68.