User:Finavon/sandbox2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Loch Maree | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Location | Northwest Highlands, Scotland |
| Coordinates | |
| Catchment area | Beinn Eighe, Slioch, Fisherfield, Glen Docherty, Coulin, Slattadale, Talladale |
| Basin countries | United Kingdom |
| Max. length | 20 km |
| Max. width | 4 km |
| Surface area | 28.6 km² (11.0 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 125 feet |
| Max. depth | 375 feet |
| Water volume | 38,500,000,000 cubic feet |
| Islands | 30 (Isle Maree) |
Loch Maree is a loch in Wester Ross in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. At 20 kilometres long and with a maximum width of 4 kilometres, it is the fourth largest freshwater loch in Scotland; it is the largest north of Loch Ness. Its surface area is 28.6 square kilometres (11.0 square miles).
Loch Maree contains five large wooded islands and over 25 smaller ones.
Isle Maree has the remains of a chapel, graveyard, holy well, and holy tree on it, believed to be the 8th Century hermitage of Saint Maol Rubha (d. 722), who founded the monastery of Applecross in 672. The same island also contains ancient stands of oak and holly which have been linked with ancient Scottish druids. The waters of the loch were also thought to have curative effects, with being submerged in the water thought to be a cure for lunacy. All of the loch's islands are conservation areas. The largest is the only island in Britain to contain a loch that itself contains an island.
Like Loch Ness, Loch Maree has its own monster in the form of the muc-sheilch. It is often referred to as the most beautiful loch in the Highlands.
Because of its remote location there is little industry and tourism surrounding Loch Maree, although it does offer good trout fishing.
