Belhavel Lough

Belhavel Lough (Irish: Claonloch, meaning 'crooked lake')[3] is a freshwater lake in the northwest of Ireland. It is located in north County Leitrim near the village of Killarga.

Belhavel Lough
Location in Ireland
LocationCounty Leitrim
Coordinates54°12′31″N 8°11′1″W
Native nameClaonloch  (Irish)
Primary outflowsDiffagher River
Catchment area22.24 km2 (8.6 sq mi)
Basin countriesIreland
Surface area1.01 km2 (0.39 sq mi)
Surface elevation60 m (200 ft)
References[1][2]

Geography and hydrology

Belhavel Lough is about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) south of Killarga and 5 km (3.1 mi) north of Drumkeeran.[1] It covers an area of 1.01 km2 (0.4 sq mi).[2] The lake drains east into the Diffagher River, which eventually reaches Lough Allen.[1]

Ecology

The water quality was reported to be satisfactory c. 2001 – c. 2003 with a mesotrophic rating,[4][n 1] but had a "poor" ecological status c. 2007 – c. 2009 indicating pollution,[6] though Zebra mussel infestation was not reported.[7] The ecology of Belhavel Lough, and other Leitrim waterways, is threatened by curly waterweed, zebra mussel, and freshwater clam invasive species.[8][9]

See also

References and notes

Notes
  1. Trophic states of "Oligotrophic" and "Mesotrophic" are desirable, but freshwater lakes rated 'Eutrophic' or 'Hypertrophic' indicates pollution.[5]

Primary sources
  1. Google (10 August 2015). "Belhavel Lough" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  2. "A Reference Based Typology and Ecological Assessment System for Irish Lakes" (PDF). Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland). 2006. p. 10. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  3. "Claonloch/Belhavel Lough". Placenames Database of Ireland. Government of Ireland - Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Dublin City University. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  4. Clenaghan, Clinton & Crowe 2005, p. 97.
  5. Clenaghan, Clinton & Crowe 2005, p. 8.
  6. EPA 2010, pp. 7, 84.
  7. EPA 2010, p. 80.
  8. Pedreschi et al. 2014.
  9. Clenaghan, Clinton & Crowe 2005, p. 16.

Secondary sources
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