Castle Loch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Castle Loch |
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 Castle Loch
Location in Dumfries and Galloway
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| Location | Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 54°50′58″N 4°40′13″W / 54.8495°N 4.67030°W |
| Type | freshwater loch |
| Primary inflows | several small burns |
| Primary outflows | Castle Loch burn |
| Basin countries | Scotland |
| Max. length | 1.25 mi (2.01 km) |
| Max. width | 0.5 mi (0.80 km) |
| Surface area | 92.5 ha (229 acres) |
| Average depth | 6.5 ft (2.0 m) |
| Max. depth | 11 ft (3.4 m) |
| Water volume | 65,000,000 cu ft (1,800,000 m3) |
| Shore length1 | 6.4 km (4.0 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 85 m (279 ft) |
| Islands | 2 islets |
| Official name: Castle Loch, Lochmaben | |
| Designated: | 15 March 1996 |
| Reference #: | 796 |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Castle Loch is a lovely freshwater lake in Scotland. It is found near the town of Lochmaben in Dumfries and Galloway. This lake is quite shallow and covers about 92.5 hectares. That is like 230 football fields! You will find two small islands in the loch. The old Lochmaben Castle stands in ruins at the southern end of the loch.
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Exploring Castle Loch
Castle Loch is a shallow lake. It is also known as a eutrophic loch. This means it has many nutrients in its water. These nutrients help plants and animals grow. The loch is about 2 kilometers (1.25 miles) long. It is also about 0.8 kilometers (0.5 miles) wide. The deepest part of the loch is around 3.3 meters (11 feet) deep.
Mapping the Loch
Scientists have studied Castle Loch for a long time. In 1903, a biologist named James Murray surveyed the loch. Later, Sir John Murray included it in his big project. This project was called the Bathymetrical Survey of Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland. It mapped many Scottish lakes between 1897 and 1909.
Wildlife and Protecting the Loch
Castle Loch is a very important place for nature. Many animals call it home.
Birds of the Loch
The loch is a special winter home for certain birds. Large numbers of pink-footed geese come here. They fly from far away to spend the colder months. Another bird, the goosander, also uses the loch. These birds find food and a safe place to rest at Castle Loch.
Protecting the Environment
Because of its importance, Castle Loch has special protection. It is known as a wetland of international importance. This means it is recognized under the Ramsar Convention. The Ramsar Convention is an international agreement. It helps protect important wetlands around the world.
Castle Loch is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest. This is a special title in the UK. It means the area has important plants, animals, or geology. These protections help keep the loch healthy for all its wildlife.
