River Cladagh (Swanlinbar)

Cladagh River (An Chlaideach)
Swanlinbar River
River
Countries	Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom
Province	Ulster
Region	Northern Ireland
Counties	Co. Cavan, Co. Fermanagh
Village	Swanlinbar
Source
- location	Cuilcagh Mountain, Co. Cavan
Source confluence
- location	H143 259 Irish Grid
- elevation	265 m (869 ft)
- coordinates	54°10′54.90″N 7°46′54.23″W / 54.181917°N 7.7817306°W / 54.181917; -7.7817306
Mouth
- location	Upper Lough Erne, Co. Fermanagh

The Cladagh River (Irish: An Chlaideach or "washing river"^[1]) or Swanlinbar River is a moderately large river which forms from a number of small streams rising on the south-eastern slopes of Cuilcagh Mountain, County Cavan and flows through the village of Swanlinbar, before crossing the border into County Fermanagh and eventually flowing into Upper Lough Erne. It is ultra-oligotrophic upstream before gradually becoming oligotrophic and oligo-mesotrophic through its middle and lower reaches.^[2]

The river is a designated Special Area of Conservation,^[2] containing one of the largest surviving populations in Northern Ireland of the freshwater pearl mussel. The mussels, estimated to be a minimum of 10,000 in number, are confined to a 6 km (3.7 mi) stretch of undisturbed river in the middle section.^[2]

See also

• Rivers of Ireland
• List of rivers of Northern Ireland

References

1. ^ "Illustrations of Townlands in Maps". Ulster Placenames – Celebrating Ulster's Townlands. http://www.ulsterplacenames.org/illustrations_of_townlands_in_maps.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-05. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Cladagh (Swanlinbar) River. Joint Nature Conservation Committee. http://www.jncc.gov.uk/protectedsites/SACselection/sac.asp?EUCode=UK0030116. Retrieved 2008-08-02.