Loch Loyne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Loch Loyne |
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Overlooking Loch Loyne
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 Loch Loyne
Location in Highland
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| Location | Northwest Highlands, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 57°5′59″N 5°1′52″W / 57.09972°N 5.03111°W |
| Lake type | reservoir |
| Basin countries | United Kingdom |
Loch Loyne is a large loch (the Scottish word for a lake) found in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. It is located between two valleys, Glen Garry and Glen Cluanie. The main A87 road runs right alongside the eastern part of the loch.
Loch Loyne: A Man-Made Lake
Loch Loyne is not a natural lake anymore. It is now a reservoir. This means its water level is controlled by a large wall called a dam. The dam was built to help create electricity.
Building the Dam and New Roads
Before the 1950s, Loch Loyne was much smaller. It was fed only by the natural River Loyne. But between 1956 and 1957, a big dam was built. This dam was part of a larger plan to make hydroelectric power. Hydroelectric power uses the force of moving water to create electricity.
The new dam caused the water level in the loch to rise a lot. This flooded an older road and a stone bridge. This old road was built way back in 1821 by a famous engineer named Thomas Telford. Sometimes, when the water level in the loch is very low, you can still see parts of the old bridge!
Because the old road was flooded, a new one had to be built. This new road is the A87 road we use today. It was built higher up on the land. From this road, you can easily see the beautiful loch below. After the water passes through the dam, it travels north through a tunnel. This tunnel carries the water into another nearby loch called Loch Cluanie.
