Lough Erne or Loch Erne (pronounced lokh airn, from Irish: Loch Éirne, meaning "Lake of the Érnai") is the name of two connected lakes in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. The lakes are widened sections of the River Erne. The river begins by flowing north, and then curves west into the Atlantic. The southern lake is further up the river and so is named Upper Lough Erne. The northern lake is Lower Lough Erne and is the bigger of the two. The town of Enniskillen lies on the short stretch of river between the lakes. The lake has 154 islands along with many coves and inlets. When windy, navigation on Lower Lough Erne, running for 26 miles almost to the Atlantic, can be something of a challenge with waves of open-sea dimensions. Shallow Upper Lough Erne, spreading southeast of Enniskillen for about 12 miles, is a maze of islands. The River Erne is 100 km long and drains an area of about 4,350km2.
Read more about Lough Erne: Islands, History, Administration, Sport and Tourism, Shannon-Erne Waterway, Ulster Canal Restoration, Gallery