Loch Spey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Loch Spey |
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Location | Highland, Scotland |
Coordinates | 57°0′28″N 4°36′15″W / 57.00778°N 4.60417°W ) |
Type | freshwater loch, lake |
Primary outflows | River Spey |
Basin countries | Scotland |
Max. length | 300 m (980 ft) |
Max. width | 200 m (660 ft) |
Surface area | 0.068 km2 (0.026 sq mi) |
Surface elevation | 350 m (1,150 ft) |
Settlements | Newtonmore, Melgarve. |
Loch Spey is a small, beautiful freshwater loch. A loch is a Scottish word for a lake! You can find it nestled in the middle of the Central Highlands of Scotland. This loch is really important because it's where the mighty River Spey begins its long journey. Imagine, this little loch is the very start of one of Scotland's longest rivers!
Discovering Loch Spey
Loch Spey is not very big. It's only about 300 m (980 ft) long and 200 m (660 ft) wide. That's like three football fields long and two football fields wide! It's also quite shallow. You might see many plants growing in the water, which are called weed beds.
Where is Loch Spey Located?
This peaceful loch is a bit hidden away. It's about 28.9 km (18.0 mi) west of a town called Newtonmore. It's also only 5 km (3.1 mi) from a smaller place named Melgarve. The loch sits about 350 m (1,150 ft) above sea level.
The River Spey flows out of Loch Spey. From the loch, it's about 20 km (12 mi) upstream from the Spey Dam. The river then travels a long way, about 186 km (116 mi), before it finally reaches the North Sea.
Fish in Loch Spey
Even though it's a small loch, Loch Spey is home to some native fish. You can find fish like trout swimming in its waters. There are also tiny fish called minnows that live there. These fish are an important part of the loch's natural environment.