Loch Etchachan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Loch Etchachan |
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Loch Etchachan, view north towards Cairn Gorm.
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 Loch Etchachan
Location in Aberdeen
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| Location | Cairngorms, Grampian Mountains, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 57°5′1.62″N 3°38′23.81″W / 57.0837833°N 3.6399472°W |
| Primary outflows | Derry Burn |
| Basin countries | Scotland |
| Max. length | 0.79 km (0.49 mi) |
| Surface area | 0.23 km2 (0.089 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 20 ft (6.1 m) |
| Max. depth | 65 ft (20 m) |
| Surface elevation | 3,041 ft (927 m) |
Loch Etchachan is a beautiful freshwater lake hidden deep inside the central Cairngorms mountains in Scotland. It's part of the Cairngorms National Park. This loch is special because it's the highest lake of its size in the whole United Kingdom! Its surface is about 927 meters (3,041 feet) above sea level.
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Where is Loch Etchachan?
Loch Etchachan is surrounded by some very tall mountains. To the north, you'll find Loch A'an and the impressive peak of Cairn Gorm. Loch A'an is about 200 meters (664 feet) lower than Loch Etchachan.
To the northeast, there's Beinn Mheadhoin. This mountain is known for its wide, flat top. To the west, you can see the plateau of Carn Etchachan. This area forms the lower slopes of Ben Macdui. Ben Macdui is the second highest mountain in the UK and rises to a peak south of the loch.
How Does the Water Flow?
From the east side, water from Loch Etchachan flows into a smaller lake called Little Loch Etchachan. From there, the water travels through a gap between two hills, Creagan a' Choire Etchachan and Stobb Coire Etchachan.
This water then becomes the Derry Burn. The Derry Burn flows south and changes its name to the Lui Water. Finally, the Lui Water joins the larger River Dee.
Fun Facts and Adventures
Loch Etchachan is a very remote place, which makes it perfect for unique adventures!
Rowing on the Loch
On August 12, 2009, some members of the Inverness Rowing Club did something amazing. They carried a boat all the way up to the loch from a place called Linn of Dee. After a long journey, they were able to row on the loch. People believe this was the very first time anyone had ever rowed on Loch Etchachan!
Windsurfing and Extreme Ironing
Another exciting event happened on June 25, 2011. Members of the Dundee Mountain Club also made a big effort. They carried a 3-meter (10-foot) long windsurf board, along with a mast and two sails, all the way to the loch. Their goal was to be the first to windsurf on its waters.
At the same time, they also brought an ironing board and an iron! They did some extreme ironing there, which is a fun and unusual sport where people iron clothes in extreme locations. Both of these adventures involved carrying heavy equipment on an 18.5-mile (30 km) round trip. This trip also included climbing 750 meters (2,500 feet) uphill!
