Lough Carra
| Lough Carra | ||
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| Geographical location | County Mayo , Ireland | |
| Drain | to the Lough Mask | |
| Islands | 73 | |
| Data | ||
| Coordinates | 53 ° 40 '53 " N , 9 ° 14' 27" W | |
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| surface | 15.6 km² | |
| length | 9.7 km | |
| width | 1.6 km | |
| volume | 27,300,000 m³ | |
| scope | 69 km | |
| Maximum depth | 19 m | |
| Middle deep | 1.75 m | |
| Catchment area | 114 km² | |
The lake Lough Carra (also Gara ; Irish : Loch Ceara ) is located in County Mayo in the west of the Republic of Ireland and has a size of about 1560 hectares. It is about 10 km long and varies in width between 400 m and three kilometers. It lies northeast of Lough Mask , to which it is connected by the Keel Canal .
It is the largest marl lake in Ireland. Lakes were common in Ireland after the Ice Age , but many became boggy or mossy over time. The lake's water mainly comes from springs , its depth is 1.5 to 3.0 m. Only the "black hole" (on the Archaeological Trail) is about 18.0 m deep and of great interest. Its frayed outline creates peninsulas and dozens of islands . Due to the narrowness between Church Island and Promontory Fort Doon Castle, the lake is almost divided in two. The western bank is in the limestone area. The purity and color of the water is produced by the marl. The chalk prevents the growth of aquatic vegetation, even reeds are rare. Lough Carras flora is of international importance and the bird life - similar to that of the Burren - is of zoological interest.
The Irish poet George Moore (1852-1933) is buried on Castle Island in Lough Carra.
Near the lake are Ballintubber Abbey and the Carmelite Churches Priory of Burriscarra, along which the Archaeological Trail runs as well as Doon.