Loch Mealt

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Loch Mealt
Loch Mealt - geograph.org.uk - 123979.jpg
Loch Mealt with Beinn Edra in the background
Highland UK relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Loch Mealt
Location Isle of Skye, Highlands, Scotland
Coordinates 57°36′23″N6°10′43″W / 57.60639°N 6.17861°W / 57.60639; -6.17861 Coordinates: 57°36′23″N6°10′43″W / 57.60639°N 6.17861°W / 57.60639; -6.17861
Type freshwater loch
Basin  countriesUnited Kingdom
Surface elevation66 m (217 ft)
Mealt waterfall with Kilt Rock behind Mealt Waterfall with Kilt Rock, Isle of Skye.jpg
Mealt waterfall with Kilt Rock behind

Loch Mealt is an inland fresh-water loch on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. It lies close to Ellishadder and south of Staffin, on the eastern side of the Trotternish peninsula.

Contents

Geography

This roughly square-shaped loch is about 1 km in length. It is located close to the sea and its eastern side comprises the spectacular 55 metres (180 ft) tall sea-cliffs of Kilt Rock, made of dolerite rock strata in many different colours. [1] Kilt Rock boasts a dramatic waterfall created from the outflow of Loch Mealt.

Ecology

There are a number of bird species in this roadside loch.Its waters are favoured by diving ducks. [2]

The Orkney charr ( Salvelinus inframundus ), a char species that could be vulnerable to extinction, has been found in Loch Mealt. [3] Since the impact of Canadian Arctic char the lake upon the native char population is unknown and the taxonomic identity of the char deemed as Salvelinus inframundus is lacking essential information, a full IUCN Red List assessment cannot be made. [4]

See also

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Staffin Human settlement in Scotland

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Ellishadder Human settlement in Scotland

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<i>Salvelinus killinensis</i> Species of fish

Salvelinus killinensis, also known as Haddy charr is a variety of charr found in certain lakes in Scotland.

Geology of the Isle of Skye

The geology of the Isle of Skye in Scotland is highly varied and the island's landscape reflects changes in the underlying nature of the rocks. A wide range of rock types are exposed on the island, sedimentary, metamorphic and igneous, ranging in age from the Archaean through to the Quaternary.

<i>Salvelinus grayi</i> Species of fish

Salvelinus grayi, also called Gray's char[r], Lough Melvin char[r] or freshwater herring, is a species of lacustrine char fish in the family Salmonidae.

References

  1. "Kilt Rock, Staffin" ukclimbing.com. Retrieved 25 July 2010.
  2. "Birding locations on the Isle of Skye". skye-birds.com. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  3. "Salvelinus inframundus". fishbase.org. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  4. Freyhof, J.; Kottelat, M. (2008). "Salvelinus inframundus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2008: e.T135414A4126169. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T135414A4126169.en . Retrieved 11 November 2021.