Muckle Water is a long, narrow fresh water loch on Ward Hill on Rousay, Orkney, Scotland. It is the biggest loch on the island and is popular for fishing. It can be reached by a track from the roadside. The Suso Burn on the north eastern shore drains the loch into the Sound of Rousay.[2]
| Muckle Water | |
|---|---|
 The Muckle Water on Rousay's southside | |
  Muckle Water | |
| Location | Rousay, Orkney, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 59°09′12″N 3°03′40″W / 59.15333°N 3.06111°W[1] |
| Type | freshwater loch |
| Primary outflows | Suso Burn on the eastern shore, into the Sound of Rousay |
| Basin countries | Scotland |
| Max. length | 1.25 mi (2.01 km)[2] |
| Max. width | 0.25 mi (0.40 km)[2] |
| Surface area | 45.2 ha (112 acres)[1] |
| Average depth | 11 ft (3.4 m)[2] |
| Max. depth | 20 ft (6.1 m)[2] |
| Water volume | 58,000,000 cu ft (1,600,000 m3)[2] |
| Surface elevation | 98 m (322 ft)[1] |
A rare hybrid pondweed (Potamogeton sp.) is found in the loch[3] as a result of its unique nutrient levels.
The loch was surveyed[2] in 1906 by James Murray and later charted[4] as part of The Bathymetrical Survey of Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland 1897-1909 .[5]
The Nuggle
editIn Orkney folklore it is said that Muckle Water is haunted by a Nuggle,[6] a magical creature usually in the form of horse similar to the Celtic kelpie. The Nuggle waits at the loch side until someone climbs on its back then it plunges into the water drowning its rider. It was said that only Finmen could ride the Nuggle.[7]
References
edit- ^ a b c "Muckle Water". British Lakes. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Bathymetrical Survey of the Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland, 1897-1909, Lochs of Orkney". National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
- ^ Scottish Natural Heritage (2006). "Commissioned Report No. 180: National Vegetation Classification survey of Rousay Site of Special Scientific Interest" (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
- ^ "Muckle & Peerie Waters; Loch of Isbister; Loch of Sabiston; Loch of Kirbister; Loch of Tankerness (Vol. 6, Plates 91 & 92) - Bathymetrical Survey, 1897-1909 - National Library of Scotland". National Library of Scotland. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
- ^ Murray, John; Pullar, Laurence (1910). Bathymetrical Survey of Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland during the years 1897 to 1909: report on scientific results. Edinburgh. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ "Fishing and watersports". Discover Rousay. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
- ^ "The Nuggle - the Orcadian water horse". Orkneyjar. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
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