Killarney Lakes
Central to Killarney National Park are the world famous Lakes of
Killarney, which make up almost a quarter of the Park's area.
The three lakes are known as the Upper Lake, Muckross Lake
(Middle Lake) and Lough Leane (Lower Lake), and are joined at the
'meeting of the waters', a popular area for visitors to the Park.
It is here that the Old Weir Bridge (thought to be over 400 years
old) can also be seen. From the meeting of the waters a narrow
channel known as the Long Range leads to the Upper Lake, which is
the smallest of the lakes but set in the most spectacular location,
in the heart of the rugged mountain scenery of the upper Killarney
Valley/Black Valley area
Muckross Lake is the deepest of the lakes with a maximum depth of
approximately 75 metres (250 feet) close to where the steeply
sloping face of Torc Mountain enters the lake.
Lough Leane is by far the largest of the three lakes, at
approximately 19km², and is also the richest in nutrients.
There are many Brown Trout in the lakes, in addition to an annual
run of Salmon. Unusual fish species include the Arctic Char (usually
found much further north, and thought to be a relict species left
behind in Killarney after the last ice age).
Please view our Photo Gallery from the Menu Bar.
