Loch Lochy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Loch Lochy |
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View from the A82
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 Loch Lochy
Location in Highland
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| Location | Lochaber, Highland, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 56°58′07″N 4°54′38″W / 56.96861°N 4.91056°W |
| Type | freshwater loch |
| Primary inflows | River Arkaig |
| Primary outflows | River Lochy |
| Basin countries | United Kingdom |
| Max. length | 16 km (9.9 mi) |
| Surface area | 16 km2 (6.2 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 70 m (230 ft) |
| Max. depth | 162 m (531 ft) |
| Water volume | 1.1 km3 (0.26 cu mi) |
| Surface elevation | 94 ft (29 m) |
| Settlements | Close to Nevis range mountains experience 0.7 km |
Loch Lochy is a big, beautiful freshwater loch (which is the Scottish word for lake!) in the Highland region of Scotland. It's known for being one of the deepest lochs in Scotland, reaching down about 162 meters (531 feet) at its deepest point. This amazing loch is part of the famous Great Glen, a long valley that stretches across Scotland.
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Exploring Loch Lochy's Location
Loch Lochy is found in a region called Lochaber, in the Scottish Highlands. It's about 16 kilometers (10 miles) southwest of another very famous loch, Loch Ness.
Size and Connections
This long loch stretches for over 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) and is usually about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) wide. The River Lochy flows out from its southwestern end. At its northeastern end, the Caledonian Canal connects Loch Lochy to Loch Oich, making it part of a waterway that crosses Scotland.
It's good to know that this Loch Lochy is different from another smaller loch with a similar name, called Loch Loch, which is located further east.
Fascinating History of Loch Lochy
Loch Lochy has been the site of some important historical events in Scotland.
The Battle of the Shirts
Near the northern end of the loch, close to a place called Laggan, a famous battle took place in July 1544. It was called the Battle of the Shirts. This fight was between two powerful Scottish clans: Clan Donald and Clan Fraser. It got its name because it was a very hot day, and many warriors took off their heavy armor and fought in just their shirts!
The Stand-off at the Fords of Arkaig
Another important event happened in September 1665, near Achnacarry. This place is on a narrow strip of land between Loch Lochy and Loch Arkaig. This event, known as the Stand-off at the Fords of Arkaig, finally ended a very long feud (a serious disagreement) that had lasted for 360 years between the Cameron clan and the Chattan Confederation.
Mysterious Folklore of Loch Lochy
Like many ancient places in Scotland, Loch Lochy has its own collection of interesting folklore tales.
The River Horse and River Bull
Local stories talk about a magical creature called the River Horse. People believed it would come out of the loch and look like a real horse, then feed on the grass along the loch's banks. The River Horse was also known as the Lord of the Lake or the Water King. Some tales say it would even try to overturn boats or trick other horses from their fields!
Another creature from these tales was the River Bull. This one was described as a "gentle, harmless creature" that would "emerge from the lake into the pasture of cows."
Images for kids
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A beautiful view over Loch Lochy
