The Rapids
Tidal current.
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Lough Hyne is a small saltwater lake in West Cork, Ireland, about 5 km southwest of the town of Skibbereen in a straight line. In 1981 it became Ireland's first Marine Nature Reserve. The lake was probably fresh water until about 2000 BC, when rising sea levels flooded it with ocean water. Today the tide rushes in from the Atlantic through Barloge Creek, and the narrow channel between them is known as the Rapids. At only 800 by 600 metres, the lake holds warm, highly oxygenated seawater that supports a huge variety of marine life, much of it found nowhere else in Ireland. Scientific study began in 1886, and it is now one of the most studied sites of its size in the world. Wooded hills surround the lake, Knockomagh Hill rises above it, and a small island in the middle carries the ruins of an old stone castle. Water surges through the Rapids as the tide turns, while the inner lake lies still as a mirror. Visitors climb a nature trail through the woods to the top of Knockomagh Hill for views over the lake and the coast. In summer people come to kayak and swim. The Skibbereen Heritage Centre has a permanent exhibition on the lake and its importance.
Tidal current.
Stone ruins.
Panoramic view.
Near Skibbereen, West Cork, County Cork, Ireland
Yes, people swim and kayak in summer.
From the top of Knockomagh Hill.