Dunalastair Water facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dunalastair Water |
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Seen from the high ground to the south
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 Dunalastair Water
Location in Perth and Kinross
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| Location | Perth and Kinross, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 56°41′55″N 4°7′45″W / 56.69861°N 4.12917°W |
| Type | freshwater loch, reservoir |
| Basin countries | Scotland |
| Max. length | 2.5 km (1.6 mi) |
| Max. width | 800 m (2,600 ft) |
| Surface area | 1.65 km2 (0.64 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) |
| Surface elevation | 198 m (650 ft) |
Dunalastair Water (which means "Loch Dhùn Alastair" in Scottish Gaelic) is a special lake in Scotland. It's not a natural lake; people built it! This man-made lake is called a reservoir.
You can find Dunalastair Water in the Perth and Kinross area. It sits between two other famous lakes, Loch Rannoch and Loch Tummel. This reservoir is super important because it helps make electricity for homes and businesses. It's also known as one of the best places in the United Kingdom to catch wild trout if you love fishing!
Contents
Exploring Dunalastair Water
Dunalastair Water is about 2.5 kilometers (1.5 miles) long. At its widest point, it stretches about 800 meters (half a mile) across. The total area of the water is 1.65 square kilometers (about 0.6 square miles).
How Dunalastair Water Was Created
This reservoir was made in 1933 by a company called Grampian Electric Supply. They built a large wall, called a dam, across the River Tummel. This was part of a big plan to create power using water, known as the Tummel hydro-electric power scheme.
The reservoir starts narrow, like a wooded valley. On its northern side, you can find the historic Dunalastair estate. Roads run along both sides of the water. The B846 road, which connects Pitlochry and Rannoch railway station, is on the north side. A smaller road from Kinloch Rannoch runs along the south.
The Dam and Water Power
The dam itself is 65 meters (213 feet) wide. It has special gates and spillways to control the amount of water that flows into the River Tummel. The main job of the dam is to collect water.
This water then flows into a wide, open concrete channel called an aqueduct. This aqueduct is 15 meters (49 feet) wide and runs for five kilometers (about 3 miles). It stays at almost the same height. The water then goes through two large pipes to the Tummel hydroelectricity power station. This power station is located at the start of Loch Tummel.
Amazing Wildlife and Fishing
Dunalastair Water is a shallow reservoir, only about 1.5 meters (5 feet) deep on average. This shallow water creates perfect conditions for many different birds and insects. Because of its unique nature, the area around the water is a special protected place. It's called a SSSI, covering over 241 hectares (about 600 acres).
Birds and Nature
Many types of birds can be seen here. Some of them include:
Fishing Fun
Dunalastair Water is a fantastic spot for fishing. The shallow water warms up quickly, which helps create lots of food for the fish. This also means there's a huge variety of insects for them to eat.
You can find some very large brown trout living in the water. These trout mostly feed at night. If you want to fish here, you must use a boat. Also, it's important to know that outboard motors (engines on boats) are not allowed.
The dam also has a special "fish ladder." This ladder has 18 pools that help fish swim past the dam. It allows them to move up and down the river safely.
