| Pollaphuca Reservoir Taiscumar Pholl a' Phúca | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Location of Pollaphuca Reservoir Taiscumar Pholl a' Phúca in Ireland | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Location | County Wicklow |
| Coordinates | 53°7′24″N 6°30′21″W / 53.12333°N 6.50583°W |
| Purpose | Water supply and hydroelectricity |
| Status | In use |
| Construction began | 1937 |
| Opening date | 1940 |
| Operator(s) | ESB |
| Reservoir | |
| Total capacity | 166 billion litres |
| Active capacity | 148 billion litres |
| Surface area | 22.26 square kilometres (5,500 acres) |
| Installed capacity | 30 MW |
| Website ESB | |
Poulaphouca Reservoir, officially Pollaphuca (from Irish Poll a' Phúca, meaning 'the Púca's hole'),[1][2] is an active reservoir (for both water supply and electricity generation) and area of wild bird conservation in west County Wicklow, Ireland named after the Poulaphouca waterfall on its south-western end where the water exits the lake. The lake is also commonly known as the Blessington Lakes, even though there is just one.
It holds 166 billion litres (43.8 billion gallons, or 0.2 cubic km) and has a surface area 22.26 km2, making it the largest artificial reservoir in Ireland by capacity and surface area.[3] It has a 44.3 km (27.5-mile) shoreline, and is 39.6 km (24.6 miles) from the sea.
- ^ Placenames Database of Ireland
- ^ "Ordnance Survey Ireland - Online map viewer". Archived from the original on 29 August 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
- ^ Oireachtais, Tithe an (4 November 1936). "Liffey Reservoir Bill, 1936—Second Stage. – Dáil Éireann (8th Dáil) – Dé Céadaoin, 4 Samh 1936 – Tithe an Oireachtais" (téacs). Retrieved 1 June 2020.