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Rivers and Lakes
Scotland is endowed with an abundance of streams and lakes.
Most lakes are long and narrow. Notable among the lakes, which
are especially numerous in the central and northern regions,
are Loch Lomond, the longest lake in Scotland; Loch Ness,
which according to legend contains a sea monster; Loch Tay;
and Loch Katrine.
Many of the rivers of Scotland, especially those in the west,
are short, torrential streams, with limited commercial
importance. The longest river of Scotland is the Tay. The Clyde,
which flows through the city of Glasgow and through the
industrial heartland, is Scotland’s most important river and
serves as a transportation outlet to the Atlantic Ocean. Other
important rivers in Scotland flow east and drain into the North
Sea. They include the Forth, Tweed, Dee, and Esk.
River Tweed
The Tweed rises in Scotland’s Southern Uplands and runs
eastward, forming part of the border with England before
entering the North Sea. The valley of the Tweed, and the
region surrounding the river’s many tributaries, is fertile
farmland. The area is noted for its sheep and for the
production of woolen tweed cloth. The Tweed is shallow and
fast-flowing, ideal for the salmon and trout that make it a
famous fly-fishing river.
Robert Harding Picture Library/Paul Hadley
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