BY NUALA MCALOON

Safety for tourists exploring Lough Erne and its surroundings is expected to improve for those who take advantage of a new map, launched by the Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland this week.

Pitched as an easy-to-use navigation guide, the Lough Erne Activity Map targets the safety of people navigating the water as a key priority. Every marker buoy on the Lough is pinpointed, using the latest global positioning satellite technology.

The map, launched in the Townhall, Enniskillen, was designed with outdoor enthusiasts in mind, and is the perfect companion for tourists and visitors to the county. Top spots for fishing, canoeing, bird sanctuaries, nature reserves as well as walks, climbs and cycle trails are all highlighted on the map.

A vital contribution to the making of this map came from Waterways Ireland who supplied staff, water based-craft and equipment, and the engineering support for the survey which took place last autumn.

Speaking at the launch, Alex Baird, the chairman of Fermanagh District Council, said the map was a great resource for tourists and visitors to the Fermanagh region.

"The safety of visitors who take to the lakes has also been considered. Surveyors from Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland, with the help of navigators from Waterways Ireland, spent many weeks meticulously plotting the position of every marker buoy on the Lough. To ensure the accuracy of these positions, the team used the most up to date global positioning satellite technology available."

The Lough Erne Activity Map is one in a series of five Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland maps. Other in the series include the Glens of Antrim, The Mournes, The Sperrins and Strangford Lough.

"All maps are at 1:25000 scale and printed on water resistant paper - so you can use them in almost any weather", Mr Baird remarked before outlining how the event was significant for another reason.

"It is the first ordnance survey of Northern Ireland map to be launched since the ordnance survey became part of the Land and Property services on the 1st of April," he stated.

While the operations of the former Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland, are now carried out under the new banner of Land and Property Services (LPS), the OSNI brand is still continuing. All future maps launched by LPS will continue to carry the OSNI logo.