River Ythan facts for kids
The Ythan is a river in the north-east of Scotland. It starts at a place called Wells of Ythan, near the village of Ythanwells. From there, it flows towards the south-east. The river passes through towns like Fyvie, Methlick, and Ellon. Finally, the Ythan flows into the North Sea near Newburgh. This area is part of Formartine.
The part of the river closer to the sea is called the Ythan Estuary. This estuary is a very important place for nature. It is part of a special protected area, which includes the River Ythan, the Sands of Forvie, and Meikle Loch. This area is especially important because three types of terns (a kind of seabird) come here to lay their eggs and raise their young. These birds are the common tern, the little tern, and the Sandwich tern.
The River Ythan is about 60 kilometres (37 mi) long. The area of land that drains water into the river, called its catchment area, is about 680 km2 (260 sq mi). On average, about 6 m3 (210 cu ft)/s of water flows out of the river.
Protecting the River Ythan
The Scottish Government has named the River Ythan area a Nitrate Vulnerable Zone. This happened because there were worries about too much algae growing in the river during the 1990s. Algae are like tiny plants that can grow very fast and cover the water. Too much algae can harm other plants and animals in the river.
Farmers in the area were asked to change how they used fertilisers. This was a big change because about 90% of the land around the river is used for farming. However, these actions have helped the river's water get cleaner. More farmers started using new methods, like creating "buffer strips." These are areas of plants or grass between their fields and the river. They also learned how to use the right amount of nutrients for their crops.
These efforts have helped the river's environment. There are now more places for wildlife to live and grow in the Ythan's catchment area.
Where Does the Name Come From?
The name Ythan might come from an old language called Brittonic. In this language, a word similar to Ythan meant "gorse." Gorse is a spiky, yellow-flowered bush. Another idea is that the name comes from an even older word, *Iectona, which meant "talkative one."
Fish in the River
The Ythan river is a special protected area for fish. This helps to keep important fish species safe. Two types of fish that are protected here are the Atlantic salmon and sea trout. Protecting these fish helps make sure they can continue to live and reproduce in the river.
