Lochan Saorach facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lochan Saorach |
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Glen Dochart
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 Lochan Saorach
Location in Perth and Kinross
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| Location | Glen Dochart, Perthshire, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 56°24′44″N 4°30′40″W / 56.4122°N 4.5110°W |
| Type | Freshwater loch |
| Primary inflows | Rainwater and surface drainage |
| Basin countries | Scotland |
| Max. length | 237 ft (72 m) |
| Max. width | 127 ft (39 m) |
| Surface area | 24,576 sq ft (2,283.2 m2) |
| Islands | One |
| Settlements | Crianlarich |
Lochan Saorach is a small lake in the beautiful Glen Dochart in the Scottish Highlands. It's also known as Lochan Dun Saoraich. This lovely lochan is found in Perthshire, Scotland, near the village of Crianlarich. The River Dochart flows through this glen, which stretches all the way to Killin.
Lochan Saorach is naturally shaped like an oval. It sits across the River Dochart from an old farm called Auchessan. What makes this lochan really special is that it once had a famous floating island! This was noted way back in 1769, and it even had another regular island too.
A Lake with a Moving Island
In 1769, a traveler named Thomas Pennant visited Scotland. He wrote about Lochan Saorach during his trip. He described a "floating island" in the lake.
This amazing island was about 51 feet (15.5 meters) long and 29 feet (8.8 meters) wide. It would move around the lake when the wind blew! Sometimes, farm animals would be grazing on it, thinking it was solid ground. Then, they would suddenly find themselves on an unexpected boat ride!
Pennant also mentioned that people could push the island with poles. It had rough grass, small willow trees, and a little birch tree growing on it. He thought the island might have formed from twisted plant roots. These roots, from plants like swamp sawgrass and deer grass, would have become a solid mat.
The Auchessan Farm, which is near the lochan, has been around since at least the mid-1700s. People still live there today.
What are Floating Islands?
[[Location map |UK Scotland | relief = 1 | label = Lochan Saorach | position = Right | lat = 56.41 | long = -4.51 | mark = | caption = Location of Lochan Saoroch | width = 150 ]] Floating islands are also called tussocks or floatons. They are made of plants that grow on a base of roots and other natural materials. This base is light enough to float on water.
Lochan Saorach isn't the only place in Scotland known for these islands. In 1745, a map of Loch Lomond showed it was famous for its own floating island. Later, a photographer named George Washington Wilson even took a picture of a floating island in Loch Lomond.
Another famous lake, Loch Ness, was also thought to have a floating island. A soldier named Richard Franck wrote about it in the 1600s. He said it was a natural mat of reeds and rushes. This mat would float around the lake, pushed by the wind.
Some people have even suggested that floating islands could explain some sightings of the famous Loch Ness Monster!
Lochan Saorach Today
Today, Lochan Saorach is surrounded by a forest of pine trees. It still has one regular island. However, the famous floating island that Thomas Pennant wrote about is no longer there.
