Lough Mahon (Irish: Loch Machan)[1] is a sea lough in the north-western part of Cork Harbour. Its area is about 12 km2 (5 sq mi).[2]

Lough Mahon
Loch Machan (Irish)
An aerial view of Lough Mahon taken from the Mahon peninsula (looking south-east).
Lough Mahon is located in Ireland
Lough Mahon
Location in Ireland
Lough Mahon is located in County Cork
Lough Mahon
Lough Mahon (County Cork)
LocationCork/County Cork
Coordinates51°53′N 8°22′W / 51.883°N 8.367°W / 51.883; -8.367
Primary inflowsRiver Lee, Glashaboy River, Tramore River
Primary outflowsRiver Lee
Basin countriesIreland
Max. length3 km (1.9 mi)
Max. width5 km (3.1 mi)
Surface area12.23 km2 (4.72 sq mi)

Several Cork suburbs, such as Mahon, Douglas, Rochestown, Blackrock and Ballinlough as well as the town of Passage West are on its southern and western shores.[3] To the north is Little Island and to the east Great Island.

Lough Mahon falls within the Cork Harbour "Special Protection Area", as designated under the EU Birds Directive, and is an important habitat for a number of bird species and migrating waders in particular.[2][4]

References

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  1. ^ "Loch Machan/Lough Mahon". Placenames Database of Ireland (logainm.ie). Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Dublin City University. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Lough Mahon - Sampling Fish for the Water Framework Directive - Transitional Waters" (PDF). Central and Regional Fisheries board.
  3. ^ "Cork Harbour: Lough Mahon". Passage West Town Council. Archived from the original on 18 November 2007.
  4. ^ Cork City Council (2009). "Sites of Particular Biodiversity Importance in Cork City - Lough Mahon and the Douglas Estuary" (PDF). Nature in the City - a guide to Biodiversity in Cork City (PDF) (Report). Heritage Council. p. 15. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 April 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
 
19th century engraving of view of Lough Mahon from Cork's northside (looking south)