Lough Neagh: The British Isles' Largest Freshwater Lake

Heart of Northern Ireland

Lough Neagh (Irish: Loch nEathach, "Lake of the Willows") is the largest freshwater lake by area in the British Isles.

Vital Statistics

• Area: 388 km² (150 sq mi)
• Dimensions: ~30 km long × 15 km wide
• Depth: Avg 9 m (30 ft), Max 25 m (82 ft)
• Volume: ~3.5 km³
• Counties: Antrim, Armagh, Londonderry, Tyrone
• Major Towns: Antrim, Ballyronan, Magherafelt, Portadown, Toomebridge

Hydrology

• Inflows: Upper Bann, Blackwater, Ballinderry, Moyola, Six Mile Water (6 major rivers).
• Outflow: Lower Bann → North Channel (Irish Sea).
• Retention Time: ~1 year.

Ecology & Use

• Wildlife: Major wildfowl site (whooper swan, goldeneye, pochard). Eel fishery (commercial). Pike, perch, roach, trout, salmon.
• Islands: 30+ (largest: Coney Island, Ramsar site).
• Human Use: Drinking water (40% of NI), sand extraction, recreation (sailing, angling, birding), drainage.
• History: Mesolithic sites, monastic ruins, WWII flying boat base.

Managed by Lough Neagh Partnership. Faces challenges: nutrient pollution, invasive species (zebra mussel), climate change.