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In The Loch Ness Monster, by Lynn Picknett, a section of the book refers to the actual loch, and its conditions. The loch itself is very unique, not only because of what may or may not lie in it, but because of its characteristics. It lies at the northern end of Great Glen fault line that cuts across the HIghlands of Scotland and is the greatest volume of fresh water in the UK. The loch is 24 miles long and one mile wide and connected to the sea by the river Ness. Loch Ness is immensely cold, very deep, and poor visibility of a few feet. Temperatures varies based on the water level, but the first 100 feet can heat up to a maximum of 54 degrees Fahrenheit. Below that temperatures don't go higher than 42 degrees. Most aquatic life live within the first 100 feet. However, in 1981 the Loch Ness Project discovered a population of Arctic char living at a depth in excess of 700 feet, "and if the peaty depths hold such unexpected secrets, what else may they be hiding?"(2). As far as the depth of the water, the actual deepest part of the loch is still under debate because of scientific sonar reasons.





I was interested to learn about the wildlife that was discovered at the lower, colder region of the loch. Char, after some research, is a fish closely related with salmon and trout that only lives in far northern areas like Scotland. After so much information on the monster itself, I was intrigued by these facts regarding this mysterious body of water.



Picknett, Lynn. The Loch Ness Monster. Singapore: Pitkin Publishing Ltd., 1993. Print.