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Loch NessScotland
Loch Ness (Scottish Gaelic: Loch Nis) is a large, deep freshwater lake (known in Scotland as a loch) in the Scottish Highlands, extending for approximately 37 km (23 miles) southwest of Inverness. It is the largest body of water in the geologic fault known as the Great Glen, which runs from Inverness in the north to Fort William in the south. The Caledonian Canal, which links the sea at either end of the Great Glen, uses Loch Ness for part of its route. Loch Ness is one of a series of interconnected, murky lakes in Scotland that were carved by glaciers during previous ice ages. Quite large and deep, Loch Ness has exceptionally low water visibility due to a high peat content in the surrounding soil. Loch Ness is the second largest Scottish loch by surface area at 56.4 km2 (21.8 sq mi) but due to its extreme depth is the largest by volume. The loch contains more fresh water than all that in England and Wales combined. At its deepest part, 226 m (740 feet), London's BT Tower at 189 m(620 feet) would be completely submerged. Loch Ness is best known for the alleged sightings of the legendary Loch Ness Monster ("Nessie"), although it is scenic in its own right. Boat cruises operate from various locations along its shores giving tourists the chance to look for the monster. It also acts as the lower storage reservoir for the Foyers pumped-storage hydroelectric scheme, which was the first of its kind in Britain. The turbines were originally used to provide power for a nearby mill, but now electricity is generated and supplied to the National Grid. At its southwestern end, near Fort Augustus, one can see the only island on Loch Ness. Cherry Island is an example of a Crannog (artificial islands generally from the Iron Age). This page was retrieved and condensed from
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loch Ness) December
2005 I first visited Inverness and Scotland during 1978, while travelling around the British Isles (U.K.) with my daughter Sarolta. One of the reasons for us visiting the place was that living in New Zealand especially during the 50s, 60s and 70s not a day passed without hearing about Scotland, England, Britain or some place or something connected with it. Another important reason was that we like to travel and of course there's plenty to see in 'ye old Inverness' and we also better mention here Lake Ness and the famous 'Monster'. Apart for stopping at Inverness to see the town, the lake and the 'monster' we had to change trains here to go to the far end of the Scottish (or British) railways, Thurso.
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