River Ythan

The mouth of the River Ythan, draining into the North Sea near Newburgh

The Ythan /ˈaɪθən/ is a river in the north-east of Scotland rising at Wells of Ythan near the village of Ythanwells and flowing south-eastwards through the towns of Fyvie, Methlick and Ellon before flowing into the North Sea near Newburgh, in Formartine.[1]

The lower reach of the river is known as the Ythan Estuary, is a part of the River Ythan, Sands of Forvie and Meikle Loch Special Protection Area for conservation, particularly the breeding ground of three tern species (common tern, little tern and Sandwich tern) (Lumina, 2004).[2]

The River Ythan has a length of 60 kilometres (37 mi) and a catchment area of 680 km2 (260 sq mi).[1] As figures of the discharge, 6 m3 (210 cu ft)/s are given[3] or 7.2 m3 (250 cu ft)/s.[4]

  1. ^ a b "Natural History of the River Ythan". River Ythan Trust. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  2. ^ "Ythan Estuary, Sands of Forvie and Meikle Loch Special Protection Area proposed marine extension Advice to support management" (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  3. ^ Eutrophication Assessment Reports 2006: Ythan estuary Archived 29 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Elaine McAlister, Nelleke Domburg, Tony Edwards, Bob Ferrier, Hydrological Modelling of the River Ythan using ArcInfo GRID