Ben Cruachan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ben Cruachan (3694 subways) |
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Ben Cruachan, seen from Meall Cuanail
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,126 m (3,694 ft) |
| Prominence | c. 881 m Ranked 14th in British Isles |
| Parent peak | Ben Lawers |
| Listing | Munro, Marilyn, Council top (Argyll and Bute) |
| Naming | |
| English translation | Mountain of Peaks |
| Language of name | Gaelic |
| Geography | |
| Location | Loch Etive/Loch Awe, Scotland |
| Parent range | Grampian Mountains |
| OS grid | NN069304 |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 36 |
Ben Cruachan is a tall mountain in Scotland. It stands 1,126 meters (3,694 feet) high. This makes it the highest point in the area called Argyll and Bute. The mountain is famous for a special reason. It holds a huge power station hidden deep inside it! The name "Cruachan!" is also an old battle cry for two Scottish clans, Clan Campbell and Clan MacIntyre.
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Discover Ben Cruachan: Scotland's Mighty Mountain
Ben Cruachan is part of the Grampian Mountains in Scotland. It sits between two beautiful lochs, Loch Etive and Loch Awe. This mountain is known as a Munro. A Munro is a Scottish mountain that is over 3,000 feet (914.4 meters) tall. Climbing all the Munros is a popular challenge for hikers. Ben Cruachan is also a Marilyn, which means it stands out quite a lot from the land around it. Its name comes from Gaelic and means "Mountain of Peaks."
The Amazing Cruachan Power Station
One of the most exciting things about Ben Cruachan is what's inside it. The mountain is home to the Cruachan Power Station. This is a special kind of power station called a pumped-storage hydroelectric plant. It works like a giant battery. It stores energy using water.
How the Hidden Powerhouse Works
The Cruachan Power Station uses two lakes, or lochs. One loch is high up on the mountain, and the other is lower down. When there is extra electricity, powerful pumps push water from the lower loch up to the higher one. This stores energy. When Scotland needs more electricity, the water is released. It flows downhill through giant pipes. This water spins huge turbines, which create electricity. All of this happens inside a massive cavern carved out of the mountain. It's like a secret underground city!
The Cruachan Horseshoe: A Ring of Peaks
Ben Cruachan is the highest point of a group of mountains. This group forms a shape like a horseshoe. It circles around the reservoir that feeds the power station. This area is known as the Cruachan Horseshoe. Besides Ben Cruachan, the horseshoe includes another Munro called Stob Diamh. There is also a Corbett called Beinn a' Bhuiridh. Corbetts are Scottish mountains between 2,500 and 3,000 feet tall. Hiking the entire Cruachan Horseshoe is a challenging and rewarding adventure for climbers. It offers amazing views of the Scottish landscape.
Ben Cruachan's Place in History
The mountain has a strong connection to Scottish history. The shout "Cruachan!" was a famous battle cry for two powerful Highland clans. These were Clan Campbell and Clan MacIntyre. This shows how important the mountain was to the people living in the area long ago. It was not just a landmark but a symbol of their strength and identity.
