Strangford Lough
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Strangford Lough (Loch Cuan in Irish) is a lough in County Down, Northern Ireland, separated from the Irish Sea by the Ards Peninsula. It is a popular tourist attraction noted for its fishing and the picturesque villages and townships which border its waters. The most notable of these is Portaferry, a small village of around 3,000 people.
The island studded sea lough is the largest inlet in the UK and Ireland, covering 150 square kilometres. Almost totally landlocked, the lough is approached from the Irish Sea through the eight kilometre long fast-running tidal narrows, which open out into more gentle waters where, it is said, there are 365 islands, one for every day of the year. In reality there are 70. Countless tidal rocky outcrops called pladdies litter the Lough and mudflats, along with marshes, rocks, bays and headlands.[1] In 2007 a 1 megawatt underwater tidal electricity generator is to be installed in the narrows. Part of Northern Ireland's Environment & Renewable Energy Fund scheme, the generator will take advantage of the fast tidal flow in the lough which can be up to 4m per second.[2]
The Lough is a conservation area and its abundant wildlife recognised internationally for its importance.
Strangford Lough is an important winter migration destination for many wading and sea birds. Animals commonly found in the lough include seals, basking sharks and Brent Geese. Three quarters of the world population of Brent Geese winter in the lough.[3]
