Vasa Loch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vasa Loch |
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Raised beach separating Vasa Loch (left) from the sea.
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 Vasa Loch
Location in Orkney Islands
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| Location | Shapinsay, Orkney Islands, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 59°03′00″N 2°55′23″W / 59.050°N 2.923°W |
| Lake type | brackish |
| Basin countries | United Kingdom |
| Max. length | 300 m (980 ft) |
| Max. width | 200 m (660 ft) |
| Surface elevation | 1 m (3.3 ft) |
| Islands | none |
| Settlements | Balfour |
Vasa Loch is a special type of lake called a lagoon located on the island of Shapinsay in the Orkney Islands of Scotland. It's known as a brackish lagoon, which means its water is a mix of fresh water and salty sea water. Imagine a lake that's almost, but not quite, part of the ocean!
This unique loch (which is the Scottish word for lake) has been around for a very long time. Old maps of Shapinsay show Vasa Loch looking almost exactly as it does today. It is separated from the North Sea by a narrow strip of land called a raised beach. Small streams and springs from the western part of Shapinsay feed water into Vasa Loch. The water in the loch is very alkaline, which means it's the opposite of acidic.
What is an Ayre?
Vasa Loch is a great example of a landform known as an ayre. This word comes from the Old Norse language, which was spoken by the Vikings who once lived in this area.
An ayre is a specific type of lake or lagoon that is separated from the sea by only a very narrow strip of low-lying land. It's like a natural barrier that keeps the sea out, but sometimes allows some salty water to mix in, creating the brackish conditions found in Vasa Loch.
