Loch Bràigh Horrisdale facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Loch Bràigh Horrisdale |
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| Loch Horrisdale | |
The eastern shore of Loch Bràigh Horrisdale
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 Loch Bràigh Horrisdale
Location in Highland
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| Location | Gairloch, Wester Ross, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 57°40′9″N 5°41′41″W / 57.66917°N 5.69472°W |
| Type | freshwater loch |
| Primary inflows | streams from Loch a' Bhealaich and Loch a' Ghobhainn |
| Primary outflows | Badachro River |
| Basin countries | Scotland |
| Max. length | 0.75 mi (1.21 km) |
| Max. width | 0.33 mi (0.53 km) |
| Surface area | 38.2 ha (94 acres) |
| Average depth | 18 ft (5.5 m) |
| Max. depth | 51 ft (16 m) |
| Water volume | 62,000,000 cu ft (1,800,000 m3) |
| Shore length1 | 3.7 km (3.7 km) |
| Surface elevation | 92 m (302 ft) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Loch Bràigh Horrisdale is a beautiful freshwater loch (which is the Scottish word for lake). It has an interesting, irregular shape. You can find it in Wester Ross, a region in the northwest of Scotland.
This loch is about 2 mi (3.2 km) south of a village called Badachro. It's also quite close to another group of lakes known as the Fairy Lochs.
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About Loch Bràigh Horrisdale
Loch Bràigh Horrisdale is a natural body of water. It gets its water from streams flowing from two other lochs: Loch a' Bhealaich and Loch a' Ghobhainn. The water then flows out into the Badachro River.
The loch is not very deep, with an average depth of about 18 ft (5.5 m). However, its deepest point reaches 51 ft (16 m). The area of the loch is about 38.2 ha (94 acres), which is roughly the size of 70 football fields!
Studying the Loch's Depths
Scientists have been interested in Loch Bràigh Horrisdale for a long time. On August 6, 1902, two researchers named T.N. Johnston and John Hewitt carefully measured the loch's depths.
Their work was part of a much bigger project. This project was called the Bathymetrical Survey of Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland 1897-1909. It was led by a famous oceanographer named Sir John Murray. This survey helped create detailed maps of many Scottish lochs.
Protecting the Environment
There have been plans to build a hydro-electric power plant near the loch. This type of plant uses the power of flowing water to create electricity. The proposed plant would be located downstream from Loch Bràigh Horrisdale.
Environmental Assessment
Because of the proposed power plant, an important study was done. This study looked at the fish and their homes (habitat) in the loch and the river flowing out of it. The goal was to understand how the power plant might affect the local wildlife.
The results of this study were shared in 2014. Later, in 2016, a company called Three Lochs Hydro Ltd officially asked for permission to build the power plant. They submitted a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to the Highland Council. This assessment helps make sure that big projects don't harm the environment.
