Fionn Loch (Suilven)

Fionn Loch
Suilven reflected on Fionn Loch
Fionn Loch is located in Sutherland
Fionn Loch
Fionn Loch
Location in Sutherland
LocationNC13041741
Coordinates58°06′23″N 5°10′23″W / 58.106291°N 5.173018°W / 58.106291; -5.173018
Typefreshwater loch
Primary inflowsUidh Fhearna from Loch Veyatie
Primary outflowsRiver Kirkaig
Max. length4.00 km (2.49 mi)[1]
Max. width0.48 km (0.30 mi)[1]
Surface area83 ha (210 acres)[2]
Average depth20.34 ft (6.20 m)[1]
Max. depth89.89 ft (27.40 m)[1]
Water volume182,731,116.7 cu ft (5,174,369.00 m3)[1]
Shore length112 km (7.5 mi) [2]
Surface elevation114 m (374 ft)[2]
Max. temperature53 °F (12 °C)
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Fionn Loch is a small irregular-shaped shallow freshwater loch, on a north-west to south-east orientation that is located 3 miles southeast of Lochinver[1][2][3] in the Assynt district of Sutherland in Scotland. The loch is located in an area known as the Assynt-Coigach National Scenic Area,[4] one of 40 such areas in Scotland.[5]

Geography

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Fionn Loch is part of the Fionn Loch drainage system and is fed with water from River Ledbeg which drains Loch Urigill, due south-by-south east and Loch Borralan, to the east of Urigill.[6] Loch Veyatie directly south, drains through Uidh Fheàrna, a slow-moving channel into Fionn Loch.[6] The drainage system was once a large lake, Loch Suilven that is now made up of Cam Loch, Veyatie and Fionn Loch.[6] A vast number of lochs and lochans surround Fionn Loch, the biggest is the large irregular-shaped Loch Sionascaig along with Inverpolly Forest directly south.

Overlooking the loch to the north-west is the imposing hulk of the mountains of Suilven at 731 meters.[7] Almost directly south of the loch is Cùl Mòr at 849m and Drumrunie Forest. To the far north-west is Drumrunie Forest.

Walking

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Fionn Loch is remote and can be reached from a route that starts from Inverkirkaig, this route reaches the bealach from the south, passing Kirkaig Falls on the way.[8]

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f John, Murray; Lawrence, Pullar. Bathymetrical Survey of the Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland, 1897–1909 Lochs of the Kirkaig Basin Volume II – Fionn Loch. p. 166. Retrieved 31 March 2022.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ a b c d "Fionn Loch". Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER). Archived from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  3. ^ Gittings, Bruce; Munro, David. "Fionn Loch". The Gazetteer for Scotland. School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh and The Royal Scottish Geographical Society. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  4. ^ "Assynt-Coigach National Scenic Area". NatureScot. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  5. ^ "National Scenic Areas". NatureScot. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  6. ^ a b c Yu, G.; Harrison, S.P. (May 1995). Lake Status Records From Europe: Data base Documentation. Paleoclimatology Publications Series Report No.3. Boulder, Colorado: NOAA Paleoclimatology Program. p. 262.
  7. ^ "Amazing Images Explore Scotland's Great Wilderness". National Geographic. National Geographic Partners, LLC. 16 December 2020. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  8. ^ "Walk of the week: Falls of Kirkaig and Fionn Loch, Sutherland". JPIMedia. The Scotsman. 19 June 2009. Retrieved 8 May 2022.