Loch Ness Facts
When you stay at Eagle Brae, a popular activity is to visit nearby Loch Ness. Whether that’s to walk along it’s lapping waters, or to get on a boat and explore it’s hidden waterways, there’s many ways to enjoy this stunning loch, and so much to learn about it. Everyone loves a fact (don’t they?). So here are 8 Loch Ness facts to impress your family and friends.
1. Loch Ness holds more freshwater than all the lakes in England and Wales combined
This is one of the most popular facts about Loch Ness, but it’s still amazing. In case you were in any doubt, Loch Ness is huge. Its surface covers an area just over 56 Km2. At its longest point, it stretches 36km which is a little shy of 400 American football fields. It is estimated to hold around 263 billion cubic feet of water. Interestingly, Loch Ness is not the largest loch by surface area in Scotland (that’s Loch Lomond) nor the deepest (that’s Loch Morar).
2. There’s a fault line beneath the loch
Loch Ness sits within the Great Glen Fault, a geological zone which occasionally experiences slight tremors. This fault is what gives the loch its long, narrow shape, highlighting the direction of the fault line.
3. You can take a canal barge on the loch
Loch Ness connects to the Caledonian Canal, which itself uses the Great Glen Fault to help transport people from the west of Scotland to the east. Although the canal is primarily used for pleasure these days, it was once a highway for transporting gods across Scotland and to parts of the highlands that were previously difficult to get to.
4. Loch Ness actually has tides
Although overwhelmingly a sea phenomenon, tides have been detected here at Loch Ness. However, it gets even more interesting. In 2012, a study looked not only at the tides, but at the way the water on the loch rises and falls as a result of the tilting and bending of the land. It’s not a huge change, with the water only going up by around 1.5mm, but it might lead to furthering our understanding of the Earth’s crust.
5. It’s not all about Nessie
Considering how much water is in the loch, it’s no surprise that there have been stories of strange creatures living in it for hundreds of years. Nessie is the most famous, but around 1500 years ago St.Columba was said to have brought a man back from the dead after an attack from a ‘water beast’. Not only that, he commanded the beast to return to the depths of the loch.
6. It’s not even all about monsters!
Until recently, Loch Ness was also home to a Wellington Bomber plane which ditched into the loch in 1940 during a blizzard. It was detected using sonar, and salvaged on the 21st September 1985 by the Loch Ness Wellington Association. The plane was seen to be in remarkably good condition, with some of the crew’s belongings still present. The bomber now resides at the Brooklands Museum in Surrey.
7. It’s a murky loch
Adding to all the mystery about what else is in the water is the fact that it is a dark, murky loch. This is due to all the peat from the surrounding lands flowing down in rivers and streams. We can’t be too angry about the peat though, as it’s what gives much of our whisky such wonderful flavours!
8. Loch Ness marathon
There’s plenty to talk about the edges of the loch too, one being the annual Loch Ness marathon. Regarded as one of the most beautiful and stunning runs on the world, this event takes place around September each year and welcomes hundreds of participants and supporters. It’s a great time to visit, as over the run weekend there’s a festival where everyone can spend time and enjoy the atmosphere.
Bonus fact – Nessie is real!
And we can prove it. If you go to Google Maps and search over Loch Ness, you’ll discover that the little yellow pin man used to enter streetview turns into a little Nessie, and he even has his own Scottish bonnet.
Book your stay at Eagle Brae and whilst we wow you with our stunning location and luxurious living, you can wow family and friends with some quality Loch Ness facts. Everyone’s a winner!
