Loch Rannoch

Loch Rannoch
Looking towards Schiehallion
Loch Rannoch
Location	Perth and Kinross
Coordinates	56°40′59″N 4°18′50″W / 56.68306°N 4.31389°W / 56.68306; -4.31389
Type	freshwater loch
Primary outflows	River Tummel
Max. length	15.69 km (9.75 mi)[1]
Max. width	1.21 km (0.75 mi)[1]
Average depth	51.1 m (167.5 ft)[1]
Max. depth	130 m (440 ft)[1]
Water volume	0.97 km3 (0.23 cu mi)[1]

Loch Rannoch (Scottish Gaelic: Loch Raineach) is a freshwater loch in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It is over 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) long in a west–east direction with an average width of about 1.2 kilometres (0.75 mi), and is deepest at its eastern end, reaching a depth of 130 metres (440 ft).^[1] The River Tummel begins at its eastern end, where the small village of Kinloch Rannoch can be found, whilst the wild expanse of Rannoch Moor extends to the west of the loch.^[2] The area surrounding Loch Rannoch, along with Rannoch Moor itself, was formerly part of the native Caledonian Forest that stretched across much of Northern Scotland.^[1] Native forest is now largely absent from much of the area, due partly to logging, and partly to the climate becoming wetter,^[1] and Loch Rannoch is now largely surrounded by commercial forestry and open hillsides,^[2] although a small area remains at the Black Wood of Rannoch on the southern shore of the loch.^[3]

Loch Rannoch forms part of the Loch Rannoch and Glen Lyon National Scenic Area, one of 40 such areas in Scotland, which are defined so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and to ensure its protection from inappropriate development by restricting certain forms of development.^[4]