Dundalk Bay
Encyclopedia
Dundalk Bay is a large (33km2), exposed estuary
on the east coast of Ireland
.
The inner bay is shallow, sandy and intertidal, though it slopes into a deeper area 2km from the transitional water boundary. It is predominantly influenced by the sea, though several rivers
drain into the bay from the west. In the northwest corner of the bay, the Castletown River
cuts through the intertidal zone and the smaller River Fane
flows into the southeast corner. While the bay is largely made up of intertidal flats
, there is a significant area of salt marsh
on the western shore. The catchment around the bay is of mixed agriculture and urban land use. The Castletown River is routinely dredged for navigation purposes for the deep water port of Dundalk
.
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
on the east coast of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
The inner bay is shallow, sandy and intertidal, though it slopes into a deeper area 2km from the transitional water boundary. It is predominantly influenced by the sea, though several rivers
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
drain into the bay from the west. In the northwest corner of the bay, the Castletown River
Castletown River
The Castletown River is a river which flows through the town of Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland. It rises near Newtownhamilton, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, and is known as the Creggan River in its upper reaches. Its two main tributaries are the Kilcurry and Falmore rivers and it enters the...
cuts through the intertidal zone and the smaller River Fane
River Fane
The River Fane is a river originating in Lough Ross on the border of County Monaghan and County Armagh. It then flows east towards Dundalk Bay, straddling the border between Counties Monaghan, Louth and Armagh flowing through Inniskeen, Knockbridge, Tallanstown before meeting Dundalk Bay near...
flows into the southeast corner. While the bay is largely made up of intertidal flats
Mudflat
Mudflats or mud flats, also known as tidal flats, are coastal wetlands that form when mud is deposited by tides or rivers. They are found in sheltered areas such as bays, bayous, lagoons, and estuaries. Mudflats may be viewed geologically as exposed layers of bay mud, resulting from deposition of...
, there is a significant area of salt marsh
Salt marsh
A salt marsh is an environment in the upper coastal intertidal zone between land and salt water or brackish water, it is dominated by dense stands of halophytic plants such as herbs, grasses, or low shrubs. These plants are terrestrial in origin and are essential to the stability of the salt marsh...
on the western shore. The catchment around the bay is of mixed agriculture and urban land use. The Castletown River is routinely dredged for navigation purposes for the deep water port of Dundalk
Dundalk
Dundalk is the county town of County Louth in Ireland. It is situated where the Castletown River flows into Dundalk Bay. The town is close to the border with Northern Ireland and equi-distant from Dublin and Belfast. The town's name, which was historically written as Dundalgan, has associations...
.