Loch of Hundland

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Loch of Hundland
Hundland loch
Loch of Hundland - geograph.org.uk - 1263841.jpg
Loch of Hundland looking south west over pasture towards the loch. The water in the distance is the Loch of Boardhouse.
Orkney Islands UK relief location map.jpg
Red pog.svg
Loch of Hundland
Coordinates 59°6′58″N3°14′3″W / 59.11611°N 3.23417°W / 59.11611; -3.23417 [1]
Type Freshwater loch
Primary outflows Burn of Kirbuster [2]
Basin  countries Scotland
Max. length1.3 mi (2.1 km) [2]
Max. width0.5 mi (0.80 km) [2]
Surface area100.8 ha (0.389 sq mi) [1]
Average depth4 ft (1.2 m) [2]
Max. depth7 ft (2.1 m) [2]
Water volume51,000,000 cu ft (1,400,000 m3) [2]
Surface elevation25 m (82 ft) [1]
Islands 6 islets [1]

The Loch of Hundland is a shallow freshwater loch in the parish of Birsay in the north west of the mainland of Orkney, Scotland. The loch lies between the larger lochs of Swannay and Boardhouse and acts as the main water catchment for Loch of Boardhouse. It has a great variety of aquatic plants including species that are unusual locally and nationally, and many types of birds including waders, gulls, larks and ducks that nest or use the loch. [3] It is also popular for trout fishing. [4]

The loch was surveyed [2] in 1906 by James Murray and later charted [5] as part of the Bathymetrical Survey of Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland 1897-1909. [6]

Climate

Climate data for Orkney: Loch of Hundland, Elevation: 28 m (92 ft), 1991–2020 normals
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)13.3
(55.9)
15.7
(60.3)
19.4
(66.9)
21.1
(70.0)
24.6
(76.3)
26.0
(78.8)
26.6
(79.9)
26.5
(79.7)
25.4
(77.7)
18.2
(64.8)
15.3
(59.5)
14.5
(58.1)
26.6
(79.9)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)6.6
(43.9)
6.8
(44.2)
8.0
(46.4)
10.2
(50.4)
12.8
(55.0)
14.6
(58.3)
16.6
(61.9)
16.5
(61.7)
14.5
(58.1)
11.6
(52.9)
8.9
(48.0)
7.0
(44.6)
11.2
(52.2)
Daily mean °C (°F)4.2
(39.6)
4.1
(39.4)
5.1
(41.2)
7.0
(44.6)
9.1
(48.4)
11.3
(52.3)
13.3
(55.9)
13.3
(55.9)
11.7
(53.1)
8.9
(48.0)
6.4
(43.5)
4.5
(40.1)
8.3
(46.9)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)1.8
(35.2)
1.5
(34.7)
2.3
(36.1)
3.7
(38.7)
5.5
(41.9)
8.0
(46.4)
10.1
(50.2)
10.1
(50.2)
8.8
(47.8)
6.3
(43.3)
3.9
(39.0)
2.0
(35.6)
5.4
(41.7)
Record low °C (°F)−8.5
(16.7)
−10.0
(14.0)
−8.8
(16.2)
−5.2
(22.6)
−4.5
(23.9)
−0.4
(31.3)
1.8
(35.2)
0.3
(32.5)
−0.5
(31.1)
−2.1
(28.2)
−6.5
(20.3)
−10.8
(12.6)
−10.8
(12.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches)121.6
(4.79)
91.8
(3.61)
85.4
(3.36)
61.4
(2.42)
54.2
(2.13)
53.0
(2.09)
59.5
(2.34)
70.6
(2.78)
92.2
(3.63)
122.5
(4.82)
127.6
(5.02)
116.2
(4.57)
1,056
(41.57)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)20.517.817.413.711.811.211.812.915.019.521.721.6194.9
Mean monthly sunshine hours 27.458.497.4147.8199.7146.9137.9135.697.271.537.521.31,178.5
Source 1: Met Office [7]
Source 2: Starlings Roost Weather [8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Loch of Hundland, Orkney". British Lakes. 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Bathymetrical Survey of the Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland, 1897-1909, Lochs of Orkney". National Library of Scotland . Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  3. "Natural Heritage, Annex 1: Local Nature Conservation Sites" (PDF). Orkney Island Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  4. "The Lochs of Orkney". Orkney Trout Fishing. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  5. "View: Lochs of Boardhouse, Hundland and Swannay - Bathymetrical Survey, 1897-1909". National Library of Scotland . Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  6. Murray, John; Pullar, Laurence (1910). Bathymetrical Survey of Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland during the years 1897 to 1909: report on scientific results. Edinburgh: National Library of Scotland.
  7. "Orkney: Loch of Hundland Climate". Met Office . Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  8. "Monthly Temperature Extremes".