The lakes sit in a low valley some 20m (66ft) above sea level.[1] They are surrounded by the rugged slopes of MacGillycuddy's Reeks. Notable mountains in the range include Carrauntoohil, which, at 1,038 metres (3,406ft) is Ireland's highest mountain, Purple Mountain, at 832 metres (2,730ft), Mangerton Mountain, at 843 metres (2,766ft), and Torc Mountain, at 535 metres (1,755ft).[citation needed]
The N71 road from Killarney to Kenmare passes a viewpoint called Ladies View which offers a view of the lakes and valleys. On the occasion of Queen Victoria's visit in 1861, the point was apparently chosen by the queen's ladies-in-waiting as the finest in the land; hence the name.[2]
Lough Leane (fromIrish Loch Léin'lake of learning')[3] is the largest and northernmost of the three lakes, approximately 19 square kilometres (4,700 acres) in size.[4] It is also the largest body of fresh water in the region.[5] The River Laune drains Lough Leane to the north-west towards Killorglin and into Dingle Bay.
Leane is dotted with small forested islands, including Innisfallen, which holds the remains of the ruined Innisfallen Abbey.[1] On the eastern edge of the lake, Ross Island, more properly a peninsula, was the site of some of the earliest Copper Age metalwork in prehistoric Ireland.[6] Ross Castle, a 15th-century keep, sits on the eastern shore of the lake, north of the Ross Island peninsula.
Also known as Middle Lake or Torc Lake, Muckross is just south of Lough Leane.[7] The two are separated by a small peninsula, crossed by a stone arched bridge called Brickeen Bridge.[1] It is Ireland's deepest lake, reaching to 75 metres (246ft) in parts.[8] A paved hiking trail of approximately 10km (6.2mi) circles the lake.[2]
The Upper Lake is the smallest of the three lakes, and the southernmost. It is separated from the others by a winding channel some 4km (2.5mi) long.[1]
Gallery
Ross Castle visible across Lough Leane
Brickeen Bridge, where Lough Leane and Muckross Lake meet
The lakes as viewed from Ladies View
Hand-drawn map of the Lakes by French artist Alphonse Dousseau, between 1830-1869
Photograph of Upper Lake published by Fergus O'Connor circa 1920 with commotion in bottom right
Scheffel, Richard L.; Wernet, Susan J., eds. (1980). Natural Wonders of the World. United States of America: Reader's Digest Association, Inc. pp.204–205. ISBN0-89577-087-3.
"Official Killarney National Park Website". 7 February 2007. Archived from the original on 7 February 2007. Retrieved 24 March 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
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