Firth of Tay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Firth of Tay |
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 Firth of Tay
Location in Scotland
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| Location | Scotland, United Kingdom |
| Coordinates | 56°26′N 3°00′W / 56.433°N 3.000°W |
| Official name: Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary | |
| Designated: | 28 July 2000 |
| Reference #: | 1034 |
The Firth of Tay (which means Linne Tatha in Scottish Gaelic) is a large firth on the east coast of Scotland. A firth is like a long, narrow arm of the sea, often where a river meets the ocean. Here, Scotland's biggest river, the River Tay, flows into the sea.
The Firth of Tay is surrounded by four different areas of Scotland: Fife, Perth and Kinross, City of Dundee, and Angus. At its widest point, near Invergowrie, it's about 3 kilometres (or 3 miles) across.
Two important bridges cross the firth: the Tay Road Bridge and the Tay Rail Bridge. The only big island in the firth is Mugdrum Island, which is quite marshy.
Did you know there's another place called Firth of Tay far away? The Firth of Tay in Antarctica was found in 1892–93 by Captain Thomas Robertson. He was on a whaling trip from Dundee and named it after the one in Scotland. He also named nearby Dundee Island to honour the main city on the firth.
Contents
Nature and Wildlife of the Firth of Tay
The Firth of Tay and the Eden Estuary (which is about 8 miles south) are very special places for nature. They have been given important protections to keep them safe.
Protected Areas
These areas were named Special Protection Areas in 2000. This means they are important for protecting wild birds. A few months later, they became Ramsar wetlands. Ramsar sites are wetlands that are important around the world. In 2005, they were also named Special Areas of Conservation. This protects different types of habitats and species.
Several parts of the firth are also part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest. These include the Inner Tay Estuary, Monifieth Bay, and the Tayport-Tentsmuir Coast. The Invergowrie Bay part of the firth is even a local nature reserve.
Wildlife and Habitats
The Firth of Tay is famous for its huge areas of sand and mudflats. These are great places for many animals to live. It's also home to a group of common seals.
In winter, many different birds come to the firth. You might see oystercatchers, bar-tailed godwits, shelducks, and velvet scoters. It's easy to get to most of the shoreline, so there are many chances to watch the amazing wildlife.
On the north side of the inner estuary, there is a huge area of reedbed. It's about 15 kilometres long and is thought to be the biggest reedbed in all of Britain!
Towns and Villages Along the Coast
Many towns and villages are located along the coast of the Firth of Tay:
- Balmerino
- Broughty Ferry
- Dundee
- Invergowrie
- Kingoodie
- Monifieth
- Newburgh
- Newport-on-Tay
- Tayport
- Woodhaven
- Wormit
Places to Visit and Explore
There are many interesting places to visit around the Firth of Tay:
- Balmerino Abbey
- Broughty Castle Museum
- Mugdrum Island
- Tay Rail Bridge
- Tay Road Bridge
- Tentsmuir Forest
- Tentsmuir National Nature Reserve
See also
In Spanish: Estuario del Tay para niños
