Loch Eck

Loch Eck
Loch Eich
A view of the loch, looking south.
Location Argyll and Bute, Scotland.
Coordinates 56°04′46″N 4°59′40″W / 56.079508°N 4.9944191°W / 56.079508; -4.9944191Coordinates: 56°04′46″N 4°59′40″W / 56.079508°N 4.9944191°W / 56.079508; -4.9944191
National grid reference NS 13753 91453
Type Freshwater Loch and Reservoir.
Primary inflows Cur
Primary outflows River Eachaig
Catchment area Cowal.
Basin countries Scotland, United Kingdom.
Surface area 4,259,000 m2 (45,840,000 sq ft)
Water volume 3,059,000 m3 (108,000,000 cu ft)
Surface elevation 24 m (79 ft)

Loch Eck; (Gaelic: Loch Eich) is a freshwater loch located on the Cowal peninsula, north of Dunoon, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is seven miles long. Apart from Loch Lomond, it is the only naturally occurring habitat of the Powan (fish).[1][2]

Loch Eck is within the Argyll Forest Park which, is itself part of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.[3][4] It is close to the Benmore Botanic Garden and the Benmore Outdoor Centre, which uses the loch and its surrounding for outdoor learning.[5]

A pathway runs along the west side of the loch, and gives access to the Paper Caves, set in the steep hillside with caving access to a platform set above a steep scarp within the cave.[6] A legend holds that the Argyll family documents were hidden in the caves when the 9th Earl of Argyll was arrested, to prevent his lands from being made forfeit.[5]

The loch is also an impounding reservoir with a concrete dam measuring 0.870 metres high. The dam was completed in 1973. Loch Eck now supplies the freshwater to much of the southeast of Cowal, including Dunoon.[7]

In July 2013, two dogs died due to algal bloom present in the loch. Warnings were then posted advising that people and animals should avoid contact with the water.[8][9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Freyhof, J. & Kottelat, M. (2008) Coregonus clupeoides. In:IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.1. (Accessed 17 April 2010)
  2. ↑ "Vendace / powan - Scottish Natural Heritage". Snh.gov.uk. 2015-11-26. Retrieved 2017-01-17.
  3. ↑ "Argyll Forest Park - Forestry Commission Scotland". Scotland.forestry.gov.uk. Retrieved 2017-02-01.
  4. ↑ http://www.lochlomond-trossachs.org/rr-content/uploads/2016/07/Downloadable-map-of-Loch-Lomond-and-the-Trossachs-National-Park.pdf
  5. 1 2 "Of Interest: Things to look out for". Benmore Centre for Outdoor Learning, Dunoon Argyll, Scotland, UK. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  6. ↑ "Loch Eck, Paper Caves". Canmore. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  7. ↑ "Clearer, fresher drinking water for 20,000 people in Cowal". Scottish Water. Retrieved 2017-01-17.
  8. ↑ Loch Eck water warning issued as two dogs die suddenly after swimming | Glasgow & West | News | STV
  9. ↑ Loch Eck Dog Warning

Sources

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