strangford lough

An area of astonishing beauty both in and out of the water, Strangford Lough lies between the great arm of land that forms the Ards Peninsula in the east and the main body of County Down in the west. this 15 mile long sea haven, scattered with small islands is home to migrant birds, common and grey seals and other marine animals. Its maritime wildlife is among the richest in Europe making it Northern Ireland's first Marine Nature Reserve as well as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and an Area of Special Scientific Interest with six National Nature Reserves within its reaches.
Strangford Lough is a mysterious place whose waters really are turbulent in parts. 400 million tonnes of water flow in and out of the Lough twice a day with each tide through "the Narrows" between Portaferry and Strangford, linking it to the Irish Sea. The fast flowing waters are negotiated at this pont every half hour by a car ferry.