Lough Mask

Lough Mask
Loch Measca (Irish)
Lough Mask is located in Ireland
Lough Mask
Lough Mask
Location of Lough Mask in Ireland
LocationCounty Mayo, County Galway
Coordinates53°37′N 9°21′W / 53.617°N 9.350°W / 53.617; -9.350
Lake typeLimestone lake
Catchment area938.4 km2 (362.3 sq mi)
Basin countriesIreland
Max. length16.1 km (10.0 mi)
Max. width6.4 km (4.0 mi)
Surface area83.43 km2 (32.21 sq mi)
Average depth15 m (49 ft)
Max. depth58 m (190 ft)
Water volume1.3 km3 (1,100,000 acre⋅ft)
Residence time0.28 years
Surface elevation20 m (66 ft)
References[1]

Lough Mask (Irish: Loch Measca)[2] is a limestone lake of about 83 km2 (32 sq mi)[1] in Counties Mayo and Galway, Ireland, north of Lough Corrib. Lough Mask is the middle of the three lakes, which empty into the Corrib River, through Galway, into Galway Bay. Lough Carra flows into Lough Mask, which discharges through the Cong Canal and underground passages in the limestone bedrock of the district. The flows from the underground passages and the Cong Canal come together at the village of Cong to form the River Cong which flows into Lough Corrib.[3]

Lough Mask is the fourth largest lake, by area, in Ireland and the sixth largest lake in the island of Ireland. The eastern half of Lough Mask is shallow and contains many islands. The other half (Upper Lough Mask) is much deeper, sinking to a long trench with depths in excess of 50 metres.[4] Lough Mask has a mean depth of 15 m (49 ft), and a maximum depth of 58 m (190 ft).[5] Its water volume of 1.3 km3 (1.1 million acre⋅ft)[6] is the largest in the Republic of Ireland and the second largest on the island of Ireland (after Lough Neagh).

  1. ^ a b "A Reference Based Typology and Ecological Assessment System for Irish Lakes" (PDF). Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland). 2006. p. 18. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  2. ^ "Loch Measca/Lough Mask". Placenames Database of Ireland (logainm.ie). Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Dublin City University. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  3. ^ Drew, D. P. and Daly, D., Groundwater and Karstification in Mid-Galway, South Mayo and North Clare, Geological Survey of Ireland, Report Series 93/3, Dublin, 1993. Pages 21, 22, 23.
  4. ^ The Bathymetry and Origin of the Larger Lakes of Ireland Author(s): J. K. Charlesworth
  5. ^ MAYO COUNTY COUNCIL TOORMAKEADY WASTE WATER DISCHARGE Page 8 [1]
  6. ^ MAYO COUNTY COUNCIL TOO URMAKEADY WASTE WATER DISCHARGE Page 12 [2]