Lough Corrib Loch Coirib |
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Fishermen near Cong
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Location | Connacht |
Coordinates | 53°26′N 9°14′W / 53.433°N 9.233°WCoordinates: 53°26′N 9°14′W / 53.433°N 9.233°W |
Primary inflows | Cregg River, River Clare, Black River |
Primary outflows | River Corrib |
Basin countries | Ireland |
Max. length | 43.5 km (27.0 mi) |
Max. width | 16.1 km (10.0 mi) |
Surface area | 176 km2 (68 sq mi) |
Average depth | 6.5 m (21 ft) |
Max. depth | 50.9 m (167 ft) |
Lough Corrib (/lɒx ˈkɒrᵻb/ lokh KORR-ib; Irish: Loch Coirib) is a lake in the west of Ireland. The River Corrib or Galway river connects the lake to the sea at Galway. It is the second largest lough in the island of Ireland (after Lough Neagh). It covers 176 km² and lies mostly in County Galway with a small area of its northeast corner in County Mayo.
The first canal on the island of Ireland was cut in the 12th century. Known as the Friar's Cut, it allowed boats to pass from Lough Corrib to the sea at Galway.
William Wilde, father of Oscar Wilde wrote a book about the lake, first published in 1867. He built a summerhouse on the banks of the lake, called Moytura House.
Lough Corrib was designated a Ramsar site on 16 June 1996. It has also been designated a Special Area of Conservation.