Loch Tay

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Loch Tay at Kenmore (in spring)

Loch Tay (Scottish Gaelic, Loch Tatha) is a freshwater loch in the central highlands of Scotland, in the district of Perthshire.

It is a long narrow loch of around 14 miles (23 km) long, and typically around 1 to 1 1/2 miles wide, following the line of the valley from the south west to north east. It is the sixth largest loch in Scotland by area and over 150m deep at its deepest.

Ben Lawers on its north shore is at 1214m the 9th highest mountain in the British Isles, and is the highest peak in a group of seven munros.

Killin at the head of the loch, and Kenmore at the outflow of the River Tay, are the main settlements on the lochside today. The smaller settlements of Ardeonaig and Ardtalnaig are located on the south side of the loch whilst Fearnan and Lawers are on the north side. The loch is fed by the rivers Dochart and Lochay at its head and numerous smaller streams.

In ancient times (in the Iron Age) people lived on defensible, man-made islands on the loch, called Crannogs. More than 20 submerged crannogs have been identified in the loch. An example has now been reconstructed on the south side of the loch at the Scottish Crannog Centre.

The loch is a popular spot for salmon fishing.

The loch, and many of its surroundings, feature in the traditional Scottish 'Loch Tay Boat Song' (Scottish Gaelic, Iorram Loch Tatha).