Poulaphouca Reservoir
Dam in County Wicklow / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Poulaphouca Reservoir, officially Pollaphuca (from Irish Poll a' Phúca, meaning 'the Púca's hole'),[1][2] is an active reservoir (for both water supply and electricity generation) and area of wild bird conservation in west County Wicklow, Ireland named after the Poulaphouca waterfall on its south-western end where the water exits the lake. The lake is also commonly known as the Blessington Lakes, even though there is just one.
Pollaphuca Reservoir Taiscumar Pholl a' Phúca | |
---|---|
Country | Ireland |
Location | County Wicklow |
Coordinates | 53°7′24″N 6°30′21″W |
Purpose | Water supply and hydroelectricity |
Status | In use |
Construction began | 1937 |
Opening date | 1940 |
Operator(s) | ESB |
Reservoir | |
Total capacity | 166 billion litres |
Active capacity | 148 billion litres |
Surface area | 22.26 square kilometres (5,500 acres) |
Installed capacity | 30 MW |
Website ESB |
It holds 166 billion litres (43.8 billion gallons, or 0.2 cubic km) and has a surface area 22.26 km2, making it the largest artificial reservoir in Ireland by capacity and surface area.[3] It has a 44.3 km (27.5-mile) shoreline, and is 39.6 km (24.6 miles) from the sea.