Scotland's Nature. Skip to content. Home About. How many lakes are there in Scotland? Posted on March 22, by NatureScot. Like this: Like Loading This entry was posted in freshwater and tagged freshwater , lakes , lochans , lochs , World Water Day.
Bookmark the permalink. Website www. Search for:. Join 1, other followers. It is a grand spectacle, perfectly complemented by the wild mountains towering iconically over the water. At the north end of the loch, you can take in views all the way up Glen Etive to the twin peaks of Buachaille Etive.
The best way to catch a glimpse is probably by walking the ancient highland route that runs the length of Loch Etive. Most of it is inaccessible by car, so the very best views can only be reached on foot. However, this makes the experience that much more special. The very largest loch in Britain goes under the name of Loch Lomond. It is quite the hotspot for tourism found within the spectacular Trossachs National park. The Trossachs refer to that wonderfully romantic and well-travelled area east of Ben Lomond which is lush with lochs, hills, forests and quaint villages.
As it is a favourite region for both locals and visitors to relax and connect with nature, the loch can get rather busy. Stretching out comfortably in the Argyll and Bute landscapes of Scotland is the longest of the freshwater lochs, Loch Awe. Its northern waters are surrounded by the thousand metres high mountain summits of Ben Cruachan and Ben Lui, while its south end embraces a fleet of small islands many of which are guarded by eerie standing stones.
The narrowness of the twenty-eight-mile long loch makes its views uniquely breathtaking. Fishing enthusiasts will know Loch Awe for its renowned trout population. Others may have heard that it is home to the famous Kilchurn Castle ruins. Kilchurn is one of the most photographed castles in all of Scotland, and you can visit its ruins by taking a short boat ride to the north side of the loch.
The long and narrow loch is known to many as the most beautiful place in that part of the country, and the very best view is set high above its eastern edge. Known as Queens View, this is one of the most famous viewpoints in Scotland. But locals will know that the spot had already borne its name for over five centuries by then. Queens View is much beloved for its panorama over the lake, the peak of Schiehallion and Rannoch Moor, which is an absolutely breathtaking sight.
Just west of it, you will also find a set of walking trails with sweet views of the loch and its surrounding countryside. Thank you for your patience. Scotland has more than 30, freshwater lochs, ranging from small lochans to the likes of Loch Ness and Loch Lomond.
Our five largest lochs — Lochs Awe, Lomond, Morar, Ness and Shiel — together hold about a third of all the water held in lochs in Scotland. Our larger lochs are often found in U-shaped valleys.
These loch basins were formed by glaciation, which shaped the Scottish landscape. NatureScot manages the Standing Waters Database, which includes aquatic plant and other data from more than 3, of our lochs.
Conditions range from soft, relatively acidic waters with low levels of nutrients, to hard, more alkaline waters with higher nutrient concentrations. Lochs with soft water and low nutrient concentrations tend to be found in the north-west and in upland areas. Lochs with higher levels of nutrients are often found in lowland areas to the south and east. More fertile catchments and shallow basins tend to occur here.
The islands have a wide range of loch types within a relatively small area. Shetland has particularly complex geology, and both the Northern and Western Isles have peaty and sandy substrates. The Western Isles are also unusual in having machair. In island groups, salt spray blown from the sea into lochs affects their chemistry, causing them to be more fertile. A similar effect occurs in lochs located close to the sea on mainland Scotland. On the Durness limestone sit marl lakes, which have very clear, hard water and low levels of nutrients.
These lochs support a diverse and extensive flora, including several native pondweeds and a number of stoneworts.
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