Loch of Lintrathen

Loch of Lintrathen is a man-made loch occupying a glacial basin at the southern end of Glen Isla,[3] approximately 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) west of town of Kirriemuir in Angus, Scotland.[1][2]

Loch of Lintrathen
Loch of Lintrathen at dusk
Loch of Lintrathen at dusk
Loch of Lintrathen is located in Angus
Loch of Lintrathen
Loch of Lintrathen
Location in Angus
LocationNO27765487
Coordinates56.68030167°N 3.18285226°W / 56.68030167; -3.18285226
Typefreshwater loch
Max. length2 km (1.2 mi)[1]
Max. width1.2 km (0.75 mi)[1]
Surface area169 ha (420 acres)[2]
Average depth23.29 ft (7.10 m)[1]
Max. depth69.88 ft (21.30 m)[1]
Water volume423,213,862 cu ft (11,984,082.0 m3)[1]
Shore length18 km (5.0 mi) [2]
Surface elevation205 m (673 ft)[2]
Max. temperature55.5 °F (13.1 °C)
Min. temperature48.0 °F (8.9 °C)
Islands0
SettlementsKirriemuir
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

The small village of Bridgend of Lintrathen lies on the southern shore of the loch, which is owned by Scottish Water and used as a water supply reservoir as well as an important wildlife site.[4] The loch has been the main water supply for the city of Dundee and Angus since 1875.[5] The water in the Loch of Lintrathen feeds down from Backwater Reservoir 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) to the north and exits it via sluices at Bridgend of Lintrathen, flowing southward past Lintrathen Mill in the ‘Melgam Water’, which has a confluence with the River Isla 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) farther south at Airlie Castle.[6] The loch has a surface area of 151.1 hectares (373 acres) and its dam is an earthworks dam.[3]

Loch of Lintrathen is a mid-altitude oligotrophic-mesotrophic loch, which supports large numbers of birds. There are internationally important numbers of greylag geese, with 3% of the Iceland population over-wintering at the site.[7] Other wildlife includes whooper swans, otters and osprey, and the loch is used for trout fishing.[4] The fishing is managed by the Lintrathen Angling Club and both brown and rainbow trout are fished for.[3]

As well as being recognised as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention,[8] Loch of Lintrathen has also been designated a Special Protection Area and a Site of Special Scientific Interest.[9] The Ramsar Site includes an area of marshland in the north-west, a total of 217 hectares being protected.[8] The loch and surrounding area is also maintained as a nature reserve by the Scottish Wildlife Trust.[4]

References
  1. John, Murray; Lawrence, Pullar. Bathymetrical Survey of the Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland, 1897–1909 Lochs of the Tay Basin Volume II – Loch of Lintrathen. National Library of Scotland. p. 122. Retrieved 6 December 2020.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. "Loch of Lintrathen". Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. Scotland and Northern Ireland Forum for Environmental Research (SNIFFER). Retrieved 6 December 2020.
  3. "Lintrathen, Loch of". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  4. "Loch of Lintrathen". Scottish Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 12 April 2019.,
  5. "Loch Of Lintrathen Reservoir, Dam". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  6. "Loch of Lintrathen Wildlife Reserve". Cateran Museum. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  7. "UK Loch of Lintrathen 13039 RIS 2006" (PDF). Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  8. "Loch of Lintrathen". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  9. "Loch of Lintrathen SPA". Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
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