Templehouse Lough

Templehouse Lough (Irish: Loch Theach an Teampla;[4] also Templehouse Lake) is a freshwater lake in the northwest of Ireland. It is located in south County Sligo and forms part of the course of the Owenmore River.

Templehouse Lough
Location in Ireland
Location	County Sligo
Coordinates	54°6′17″N 8°35′21″W
Native name	Loch Theach an Teampla  (Irish)
Primary inflows	Owenmore River and other streams
Primary outflows	Owenmore River
Catchment area	268.54 km^2 (104 sq mi)
Basin countries	Ireland
Max. length	2 km (1.2 mi)
Max. width	0.5 km (0.3 mi)
Surface area	1.19 km^2 (0.46 sq mi)
Average depth	2.6 m (9 ft)
Max. depth	5.3 m (17 ft)
Surface elevation	54 m (177 ft)
References	[1][2][3]

Geography

Templehouse Lough lies about 22 kilometres (14 mi) south of Sligo and 6 km (4 mi) west of Ballymote. The lake covers 1.19 km² (0.46 sq mi) in area and is about 2 km (1.2 mi) long from north to south. The lake has numerous crannogs (artificial islands).[1][2]

Hydrology

Templehouse Lough is fed by the Owenmore River and other streams entering at the lake's southern end. The lake drains north into the continuation of the Owenmore River, which then flows north to join the Ballysadare River.[2][5]

Natural history

Fish present in Templehouse Lough include roach, perch, pike and the critically endangered European eel.[6] A number of duck species winter at the lake including teal, wigeon, mallard, tufted duck and goldeneye. Wader bird species include lapwing, curlew and Greenland white-fronted goose. Other bird species found at the lake include mute swan, great crested grebe and heron.[5]

Templehouse Lough is part of the Templehouse and Cloonacleigha Loughs Special Area of Conservation as a hard water lake habitat.[5]

See also

• List of loughs in Ireland

References

1. "A Reference Based Typology and Ecological Assessment System for Irish Lakes" (PDF). Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland). 2006. p. 13. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
2. Google (26 May 2015). "Templehouse Lake" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 26 May 2015.
3. "Sampling Fish for the Water Framework Directive - Templehouse Lake" (PDF). Inland Fisheries Ireland. October 2011. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
4. http://www.logainm.ie/en/112097
5. "Templehouse and Cloonacleigha Loughs SAC" (PDF). National Parks and Wildlife Service (Ireland). Retrieved 26 May 2015.
6. "Preliminary Synopsis of the WFD Surveillance Monitoring Fish Stock Survey on Templehouse Lake" (PDF). Inland Fisheries Ireland. October 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2015.