Firth of Clyde

Firth of Clyde
Clyde Waters, Clyde Sea
Map of the Firth of Clyde.
Firth of Clyde Show map of Argyll and Bute Firth of Clyde Show map of Scotland
Location	Scotland, United Kingdom
Coordinates	55°40′N 5°00′W / 55.667°N 5.000°W / 55.667; -5.000grid reference NS153652
Type	Firth
Etymology	Scottish
Part of	Irish Sea
River sources	River Clyde
Basin countries	Scotland
Surface area	4,279 cubic kilometres (1,027 cu mi)
Average depth	58 metres (190 ft)
Max. depth	198 metres (650 ft)
Shore length1	1,256 kilometres (780 mi)
Surface elevation	0 metres (0 ft)
Frozen	No
Islands	Isle of Arran, Isle of Bute, Isle of Cumbrae
References	[1] [2]
Ramsar Wetland
Designated	5 September 2000
Reference no.	1036[3]
Invalid designation
Designated	2008
Invalid designation
Designated	7 August 2014
Reference no.	10414[7][8]
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

The Firth of Clyde, is the estuary of the River Clyde, on the west coast of Scotland. The Firth has some of the deepest coastal waters of the British Isles. The Firth is sheltered from the Atlantic Ocean by the Kintyre Peninsula. The Firth lies between West Dunbartonshire in the north, Argyll and Bute in the west and Inverclyde, North Ayrshire and South Ayrshire in the east. The Kilbrannan Sound is a large arm of the Firth, separating the Kintyre Peninsula from the Isle of Arran. The Kyles of Bute separates the Isle of Bute from the Cowal Peninsula. The Sound of Bute separates the islands of Bute and Arran.

The Highland Boundary Fault crosses the Firth. The Firth also played a vital military role during World War II.

The Firth is sometimes called the Clyde Waters or Clyde Sea, and is customarily considered to be part of the Irish Sea.^[9][10]