The Site is a shallow limestone lake fed by two rivers, with peatland and raised bog. The lake contains numerous low-lying islands and is fringed by many different habitats such as reedbeds, freshwater marsh, lowland wet grassland and scrub. These habitats are important for feeding and roosting waterbirds: more than 1% of the global population of whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus) visit, as do Greenland white-fronted goose (Anser albifrons flavirostris) whose population is of great concern because it has declined by more than 30% over the past ten years. A number of other wintering waterbirds are regularly recorded, such as mute swan (Cygnus olor) and tufted duck (Aythya fuligula). Other wintering birds include teal (Anas crecca), wigeon (Anas penelope), shoveler (Anas clypeata), common pochard (Aythya ferina), curlew (Numenius arquata) and northern lapwing (Vanellus vanellus). Lough Gara is used for coarse fishing for pike, rudd and roach, and for kayaking, rowing, swimming and sailing. Invasive species pose a potentially significant impact to its ecological character.