Ballynahinch Lake (Irish: Loch Bhaile na hInse)[1] is a freshwater lake in the west of Ireland. It is located in the Connemara area of County Galway.
| Ballynahinch Lake | |
|---|---|
| Loch Bhaile na hInse (Irish) | |
 | |
  Location in Ireland | |
| Location | County Galway |
| Coordinates | 53°28′2″N 9°51′30″W / 53.46722°N 9.85833°W |
| Primary inflows | Derryclare Lough |
| Primary outflows | Owenmore River |
| Catchment area | 155.23 km2 (59.9 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Ireland |
| Max. length | 3.9 km (2.4 mi) |
| Max. width | 0.9 km (0.6 mi) |
| Surface area | 1.7 km2 (0.66 sq mi) |
| Surface elevation | 7 m (23 ft) |
| References | [1][2][3] |
Geography
editBallynahinch Lake measures about 4 km (2.5 mi) long and 1 km (0.6 mi) wide. It is located about 10 km (6 mi) east of Clifden and about 60 km (37 mi) northwest of Galway city. The Twelve Bens mountain range lies to the north of the lake, with Benlettery directly overlooking.[2] Ballynahinch Castle lies on the west shores.
Hydrology
editBallynahinch Lake is fed by Derryclare Lough at its eastern end (which is in turn fed by the neighboring Lough Inagh), and it drains to the south via the small Owenmore River – also called the Ballynahinch River, and not to be confused with the Owenmore River (County Mayo) – which in turn enters Bertraghboy Bay.[2]
Natural history
editFish species in Ballynahinch Lake include salmon and brown trout.[4] Ballynahinch Lake is part of The Twelve Bens/Garraun Complex Special Area of Conservation.[5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Loch Bhaile na hInse/Ballynahinch Lake". Placenames Database of Ireland. Government of Ireland - Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Dublin City University. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ a b c "Ballynahinch Lake" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 27 December 2015.
- ^ Free, Gary; Little, Ruth; Tierney, Deirdre; Donnelly, Karol & Caroni, Rossana (2006). A Reference Based Typology and Ecological Assessment System for Irish Lakes (PDF) (Report). Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland). p. 10. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ "Ballynahinch and Lough Inagh". Inland Fisheries Ireland. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
- ^ "The Twelve Bens/Garraun Complex SPA" (PDF). National Parks and Wildlife Service (Ireland). Retrieved 27 December 2015.