Lakes of Killarney
Encyclopedia
The Lakes of Killarney are a renowned scenic attraction located near Killarney
, County Kerry
, in Ireland
. They consist of three lakes - Lough Leane
, Muckross Lake (also called Middle Lake) and Upper Lake.
Lough Leane is the largest of the three lakes. The River Laune
drains Lough Leane to the north towards Killorglin
and into Dingle Bay
.
The lakes lie in a mountain-ringed valley starting in the Black Valley. The mountains include:
Ladies View is a scenic stopping point on the N71 road from Killarney
to Kenmare
that offers a view of the lakes and valleys.
There are many sites of natural, historic and religious interest on the lakes which are mostly contained in the surrounding Killarney National Park
. On the shores lie Ross Castle
, Muckross Abbey
and Muckross House
. On Lough Leane is Innisfallen Island
.
Ross Island, a peninsula on the eastern shore of Lough Leane, is the site of copper
mine
s dating back 4000 years to the Bronze Age
, the earliest known copper mines in the British Isles
. The area was also extensively mined in the early 19th century by the Herbert family of Muckross House.
Muckross Peninsula, which separates Lough Leane from Muckross Lake, contains one of the few yew
woods in Europe.
The lakes are renowned for their trout
fisheries.
Killarney
Killarney is a town in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland. The town is located north of the MacGillicuddy Reeks, on the northeastern shore of the Lough Lein/Leane which are part of Killarney National Park. The town and its surrounding region are home to St...
, County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
, in 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...
. They consist of three lakes - Lough Leane
Lough Leane
Lough Leane is largest of the three lakes of Killarney. The River Laune flow from the lake into the Dingle Bay.The lake's name means "lake of learning" probably in reference to the monastery on Innisfallen, an island in the lake...
, Muckross Lake (also called Middle Lake) and Upper Lake.
Lough Leane is the largest of the three lakes. The River Laune
River Laune
The River Laune is a river in County Kerry, Ireland which flows from Lough Leane , one of the Lakes of Killarney, through the town of Killorglin, and empties into the sea, first at Castlemaine harbour beside the river Maine and then out through Dingle Bay. The Laune is well known for salmon and...
drains Lough Leane to the north towards Killorglin
Killorglin
Killorglin is a town in County Kerry, Ireland. It is located on the river Laune, which has a rowing club and a new boathouse. The population of Killorglin is 4,150 although this expands considerably during Puck Fair due to visitors and returning emigrants.Killorglin is a major activity centre...
and into Dingle Bay
Dingle Bay
Dingle Bay is a bay located in County Kerry, western Ireland. The bay runs approximately from northeast to southwest into the Atlantic Ocean and is approximately wide at the head, and wide at the entrance. It is flanked on the north by the Dingle Peninsula, and on the south by the Iveragh...
.
The lakes lie in a mountain-ringed valley starting in the Black Valley. The mountains include:
- Carrauntoohil 1,038 metres (Ireland's highest mountain)
- Purple MountainPurple MountainsPurple Mountain is a 832 m mountain in County Kerry, Republic of Ireland. It is a massif that includes three main peaks: Purple, Tomies and Shehy . Purple is the 27th highest peak in Ireland. The mountain is bounded to the west by the Gap of Dunloe, which separates it from Macgillycuddy's Reeks...
(832m) - Mangerton MountainMangerton MountainMangerton or Mangerton Mountain is a mountain in County Kerry, Republic of Ireland. At a height of 839 m it is the tallest of the Mangerton range and 25th tallest in Ireland...
(843m) - Torc MountainTorc MountainTorc Mountain is a mountain near Killarney in County Kerry, Ireland which is 535 m high. Torc Mountain gets its name from an enchanted boar that was killed there by the legendary hero, Fionn mac Cumhaill. Torc Mountain is the 383rd highest summit in Ireland.-See also:*Mountains of East Kerry...
(535m)
Ladies View is a scenic stopping point on the N71 road from Killarney
Killarney
Killarney is a town in County Kerry, southwestern Ireland. The town is located north of the MacGillicuddy Reeks, on the northeastern shore of the Lough Lein/Leane which are part of Killarney National Park. The town and its surrounding region are home to St...
to Kenmare
Kenmare
Kenmare is a small town in the south of County Kerry, Ireland. The name Kenmare is the anglicised form of Ceann Mara meaning "head of the sea", referring to the head of Kenmare Bay.-Location:...
that offers a view of the lakes and valleys.
There are many sites of natural, historic and religious interest on the lakes which are mostly contained in the surrounding Killarney National Park
Killarney National Park
Killarney National Park is located beside the town of Killarney, County Kerry, Ireland. It was the first national park established in Ireland, created when Muckross Estate was donated to the Irish state in 1932...
. On the shores lie Ross Castle
Ross Castle
Ross Castle is the ancestral home of the O'Donoghue clan though it is better known for its association with the Brownes of Killarney who owned it until recently...
, Muckross Abbey
Muckross Abbey
Muckross Abbey is one of the major ecclesiastical sites found in the Killarney National Park, County Kerry, Republic of Ireland. It was founded in 1448 as a Franciscan friary for the Observantine Franciscans by Donal McCarthy Mor....
and Muckross House
Muckross House
Muckross House is located on the small Muckross Peninsula between Muckross Lake and Lough Leane, two of the lakes of Killarney, from the town of Killarney in County Kerry, Ireland....
. On Lough Leane is Innisfallen Island
Innisfallen Island
Innisfallen or Inishfallen is an island in Lough Leane; one of the three Lakes of Killarney in County Kerry, Ireland. It is home to the ruins of Innisfallen Abbey, one of the most impressive archaeological remains dating from the early Christian period found in the Killarney National Park. The...
.
Ross Island, a peninsula on the eastern shore of Lough Leane, is the site of copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
mine
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
s dating back 4000 years to the Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
, the earliest known copper mines in the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
. The area was also extensively mined in the early 19th century by the Herbert family of Muckross House.
Muckross Peninsula, which separates Lough Leane from Muckross Lake, contains one of the few yew
Taxus
Taxus is a genus of yews, small coniferous trees or shrubs in the yew family Taxaceae. They are relatively slow-growing and can be very long-lived, and reach heights of 1-40 m, with trunk diameters of up to 4 m...
woods in Europe.
The lakes are renowned for their trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
fisheries.