Loch is a Scottish Gaelic word meaning lake that the Scots have adopted to refer to any body of water in Scotland. It is believed that Scotland has around 31,000 lochs. We’ll look at 15 random facts about Scottish Lochs here.
- The Lake of Menteith in Perthshire is Scotland’s sole natural lake.
- Loch Lomond is the largest loch in terms of surface area.
- Loch Ness is the largest loch in terms of amount of water.
- Loch Morar is the deepest loch, measuring 328 meters at its deepest point.
- The Caledonian Canal connects Lochs Dochfour, Ness, Loch Lochy, and Oich.
- Loch Fyne in Argyll is the longest marine loch. Loch Fyne is well-known for its abundance of seafood.
- Loch Awe in Argyll is the longest inland loch.
- The Nor’ Loch in Edinburgh was built in the 15th century as part of the city’s defenses, but it was drained in the 18th century because it had become a health concern.
- In relation to drained Lochs. Gogarloch was a marshland in South Gyle that was drained in the nineteenth century to make space for a new railway.
- On a lovely day during the Second World War, the crew of a German U-boat landed on the shores of Loch Eriboll and had a picnic.
- The number eleven is related with Loch Leven. It is 11 miles in circumference, has eleven islands, and eleven streams feed into it.
- Speaking of Loch Leven, one of its isle castles housed Mary Queen of Scots while she was imprisoned. She once attempted to flee by posing as a laundress, but a fisherman noticed that her hands were too neatly kept to be a laundress, and she was quickly apprehended and re-imprisoned.
- There are 30 islands in Loch Lomond, ranging from little outcrops to the two-mile-square Inchmurrin. Some locals claim that there is a 31st, but it appears and disappears in an instant!
- In March 1941, an Italian newspaper reported that the German bombing raids were so severe that the Loch Ness monster was slain by a direct hit!
- Loch Ness is world famous for being the home of the Loch Ness Monster – or Nessie, as she is affectionately known – despite the fact that there is no concrete proof of the monster’s existence, the mere possibility of its existence has boosted the Scottish tourism industry for many years as people flock to Loch Ness in the hope of catching a glimpse. Most people leave without seeing Nessie, although many do take home a stuffed toy of her.
