Loch Long facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Loch Long |
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Nov2007.jpg)
Looking down Loch Long from the torpedo testing facility. The houses to the left are at Ardmay.
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 Loch Long
Location in Argyll and Bute
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| Location | Cowal, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. |
| Coordinates | 56°02′04″N 4°53′08″W / 56.034395°N 4.8855839°W, |
| Type | Sea Loch |
| Basin countries | Scotland, United Kingdom |
| Frozen | No |
Loch Long is a long, narrow body of water found in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It's a type of sea loch, which means it's an inlet of the sea. The loch stretches about 20 miles (32 km) long. It is usually between 1 and 2 miles (1.6 to 3.2 km) wide.
Loch Long connects to the Firth of Clyde at its southern end. It also has a smaller arm called Loch Goil on its western side. The loch forms part of the coastline for the Cowal peninsula. It also makes up the entire western coast of the Rosneath Peninsula.
Historically, Loch Long was the border between two areas: Argyll and Dunbartonshire. However, in 1996, the boundaries were changed. Now, the entire loch is located within the Argyll and Bute council area. In the past, a steamboat called the Chancellor used to travel on the loch. It would leave Dunoon in the morning and return about five hours later.
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Villages Along Loch Long
Several small villages are located along the shores of Loch Long. At the very top (or head) of the loch, you'll find the village of Arrochar. On the eastern shore, closer to the southern end, is the village of Cove.
Fishing in Loch Long
Loch Long is known for its fishing. Several Scottish records for sea fishing have been set here. Anglers have caught different types of fish in the loch.
| Species | Weight | Angler / Date |
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| Argentine | 00-05-03 | I. Miller, 1978 (Boat) |
| Herring | 01-02-00 | R. C. Scott, 1974 (Boat) |
| Rockling, Shore | 00-14-08 | A. Glen, 1982 (Shore) |
Sports and Activities
Loch Long is a popular spot for outdoor activities. The Ardentinny Outdoor Education Centre is on the western shore. This center uses the loch for many different watersports.
The loch is also a favorite place for scuba divers. There are many old shipwrecks scattered across the bottom of the loch. These wrecks make for interesting places to explore underwater.
Finnart Oil Terminal
On the eastern side of Loch Long, you'll find the Finnart Oil Terminal. This facility is connected to the Grangemouth Refinery by a long pipeline. The pipeline stretches for about 58 miles (93 km).
The eastern shore of Loch Long is also important for the Royal Navy. It is home to the Royal Navy's Coulport Armament depot. This depot is part of HMNB Clyde, a major naval base. There is also the Glen Mallan jetty, which connects to the Glen Douglas defence munitions depot.
For many years, a testing range for torpedoes was located on the loch. It was set up in 1912 and was linked to the Clyde Torpedo Factory in Greenock. This range was used during both World Wars. It finally closed down in 1986. Because of its history, the loch still contains many wrecks from these testing activities.
