Ness, LOCH,

Ness, LOCH, a long, narrow lake of Inverness-shire, the second largest in Scotland, 6½ miles SW. of Inverness. Lying 50 feet above sea-level, it extends 22½ miles north-north-eastward, and has an average breadth of 1 mile, with an area of 19 sq. m. It receives the Morrison, Oich, Foyers (q.v.), and other streams, and sends off the river Ness to the Moray Firth. It lies in the valley of Glenmore, on the line of the Caledonian Canal (q.v.), and is enclosed by steep mountains—the highest, Mealfourvonie (2284 feet). Owing to its great depth (in places 780 feet) it never freezes to any considerable extent. See FORT AUGUSTUS.