Strangford Lough

Island-dotted inlet in the east of County Down, Northern Ireland. The entrance to the lough lies between Strangford and Portaferry in the south, and it is bounded from the sea on the east by the Ards Peninsula, 32 km/20 mi long by 8 km/5 mi wide.

Violent tides enter the lough through the narrow inlet. Strangford Lough is an important habitat for wildlife, especially for overwintering Arctic birds. Queen's University, Belfast, has a marine biological research station and sea-water aquarium at Portaferry on the south of Ards Peninsula. There are many monastic and castle ruins along the shores of Strangford Lough. On Mahee Island, reached by a causeway, are the ruins of Nendrum monastery founded in the 5th century. The Nendrum Bell is now in Belfast Museum.