Rivers and Lakes

The river Clyde is Scotland�s most important river.

Ships from the Atlantic Ocean can sail up the Clyde to Glasgow. The Clyde was narrow and shallow until the 1700�s when engineers widened and deepened the river to make it navigable. Scotland�s longest rivers flow eastward into the North Sea.

The Tay, 120 miles (193 kilometers) long, is the largest river in Scotland. It carries more water than any other river in the United Kingdom.

Many of Scotland�s rivers flow into wide bays called firths. The Firths of Forth, Tay, and Moray are on the east coast. The Firths of Clyde and Lorn lie on the west side. All ships bound for Glasgow must pass through the Firth of Clyde.

A suspension bridge, one of the longest in the world, spans the Firth of Forth at Queens Ferry. It is 8244 feet (2313 meters) long.

Most of Scotland�s lakes (which are called lochs) lie in deep Highland valleys.

Loch Lomond is Scotland�s largest lake. It is 23 miles (37 kilometers) long and 5 miles (8 kilometers) at its widest point

A series of lakes extend through Glen Mor. These lakes are connected by canals and form the Caledonian Canal, which cuts across Scotland from Moray Firth to the Firth of Lorn.

One of the canal's lakes' is famous for its "monster". Some people claim to have seen a creature 30 feet (9 meters) long in the lake.

Along the west coast of Scotland, the Atlantic Ocean extends inland in many narrow bays called sea lochs.

Back  Next