Pouladower karst spring, Ennis, County Clare, Ireland

This early-morning photo shows Pouladower spring, a large karst spring in the west of Ireland, during a period of high flow in the winter. During such conditions, groundwater levels within the karst aquifer rise substantially and the main spring outlet increases its discharge. At the same time, a number of estavelles become active around the main spring outlet, as visible in the photo (and this is why this photo is interesting). This spring is located within agricultural land and currently provides water to nearby farms for agricultural production. In the past, it has also been considered as a potential public water supply option for the nearby town of Ennis. Photograph listed under 'Groundwater for Ecosystems', photograph number four.