River Dee, Aberdeenshire Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids River Dee
The River Dee at Potarch, between Aboyne and Banchory.
The north east of Scotland, showing the location of the Dee.
Native name	Uisge Dhè
Country	Scotland
County	Aberdeenshire
Physical characteristics
Main source	Wells of Dee, Braeriach, Cairngorms 1,220 m (4,000 ft)
River mouth	Aberdeen 57°08′32″N 2°04′02″W / 57.1422°N 2.0673°W / 57.1422; -2.0673
Length	140 km (87 mi)
Basin features
Basin size	2,100 km² (810 sq mi)

The River Dee is a famous river in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It starts high up in the Cairngorms mountains. The river then flows through the southern part of Aberdeenshire. Finally, it reaches the North Sea at the city of Aberdeen.

The area around the river is called Deeside. The part between Braemar and Banchory is known as Royal Deeside. This is because Queen Victoria loved the area very much. She even built Balmoral Castle there.

Deeside is a popular place for visitors. People come to see its beautiful scenery and learn about its history. The area is so special that it is part of the Cairngorms National Park. It is also a Deeside and Lochnagar National Scenic Area. The River Dee is also very popular for fishing. It is known as one of the best rivers in the world for catching Atlantic salmon.

The name Dee has a long history. People believe it comes from an old word meaning 'Goddess'. This suggests that ancient people thought the river was very special or even divine. There are other rivers in Great Britain with the same name. They likely share a similar ancient meaning.