Firth of Forth facts for kids

A satellite view of the Firth of Forth and the land around it.

A map showing the Firth of Forth.

The ferry Blue Star 1 sailing under the Forth Bridge. It was going from Rosyth to Zeebrugge.

The Firth of Forth is a large estuary (a wide river mouth) in Scotland. It's where the River Forth meets the North Sea. This important waterway separates the region of Fife in the north from West Lothian, the City of Edinburgh, and East Lothian in the south.

How the Firth of Forth Was Formed

The Firth of Forth is a special type of valley called a fjord. Fjords are usually found in places that were once covered by huge sheets of ice.

During the last Ice Age, a giant ice sheet called the Forth Glacier carved out this deep valley. As the glacier melted, the valley filled with water, creating the Firth of Forth we see today. The river's water is affected by the ocean's tides all the way inland to Stirling.

Bridges Crossing the Firth

Many important bridges cross the Firth of Forth, connecting the north and south sides. These bridges help people and goods travel across Scotland.

Historic Forth Bridges

• The Kincardine Bridge was one of the first major crossings.
• The Forth Road Bridge was built for cars and other vehicles.
• The famous Forth Rail Bridge is a railway bridge known for its unique design. It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Newer Crossings for More Traffic

As more people traveled, new bridges were needed.

• The Clackmannanshire Bridge was built near the Kincardine Bridge to help with road traffic.
• The Queensferry Crossing was built next to the Forth Road Bridge. It's a modern cable-stayed bridge designed to handle even more cars and trucks.

Hovercraft Service Trial

In July 2007, a special trial took place. A hovercraft passenger service, called "Forthfast," ran for two weeks. It carried people between Portobello in Edinburgh and Kirkcaldy in Fife.

This trial was very successful. About 85% of the seats were filled on average. People hoped it would help reduce traffic on the road and rail bridges. The plan was for the hovercraft to carry around 870,000 passengers each year. However, the service was stopped in 2011.

Images for kids

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  From left to right: The Queensferry Crossing, the Forth Road Bridge, and the Forth Bridge, seen from South Queensferry.

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  The hovercraft used for the Fife-Edinburgh service trial.

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  Two of the three bridges across the Firth, viewed from Dalmeny. This photo was taken before the Queensferry Crossing was built.

See also

In Spanish: Fiordo de Forth para niños