burren LIFE

Habitats of the Burren

Habitat Type: Turloughs

Turloughs are a priority habitat (3180) for conservation under the EU Habitats Directive.

Description: These are areas where a depression in a limestone area is intermittently flooded mainly from groundwater. The water levels fluctuate markedly during the year, generally flooding in winter and drying out during the summer months. They normally fill through underground springs and swallow holes. Across the turlough basin the flooding depth and duration vary and there may be some pools of permanent water in the centre. All areas within the normal high flood limit are considered part of the turlough habitat.