Loch Coire Fionnaraich - United Kingdom

Basic Information
Site Name
Loch Coire Fionnaraich
Short name
UWMN_25
Country
United Kingdom
Web Address
Loch Coire Fionnaraich on UWMN
Loch Coire Fionnaraich on UK Lakes Portal
Site Manager
Don Monteith
Site Description
UK Upland Waters Monitoring Network (UK UWMN) site. Loch Coire Fionnaraich has a catchment of 550 ha, with a range of elevation from 236 m at the outflow to 933 m at the summit of Maol Chean-dearg. Whilst a band of Cambrian basal quartzite and "Pipe Rock" crosses beneath the northern side of the loch, the catchment geology is mostly made up of Torridonian sandstones from the Applecross and Aultbea groups. Catchment soils consist of peats and peaty podsols alongside extensive areas of exposed rock. Vegetation is dominated by Molinia and Calluna and the catchment is treeless. The surrounding moorland is managed for red deer and low numbers of feral goats are also present. A popular hiking path passes along the western shore of the loch. There are a number of very small lochans and pools on the catchment's northern boundary and one more in the north-west.
Last modified
2023-07-28 12:07:04

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General Characteristics and Status
Site Status
Operational
Year Established
2001
Observed properties
Affiliation and Network Specific Information
Affiliation
UK Upland Waters Monitoring Network✖ (UWMN_25)The affiliation of this site with "UK Upland Waters Monitoring Network" is not verified.
Projects
ICP Waters
Geographic
View in site map
Elevation (average)
236.00msl
Elevation (min)
236.00msl
Elevation (max)
236.00msl
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Site information [.json]

Centroid/representative coordinates [.shp] [.kml]
Bounding Box [.shp] [.kml]
Boundaries [.shp] [.kml]
GEO-BON Biome
Fresh water lakes
Biome
Fresh Water Lakes
Ecosystem Type
Lakes
Fresh Water Lakes
Small lakes
Biogeographical Region
Atlantic Bio-geographical Region
Precipitation Annual
3300.00mm
Geology
Whilst a band of Cambrian basal quartzite and "Pipe Rock" crosses beneath the northern side of the loch, the catchment geology is mostly made up of Torridonian sandstones from the Applecross and Aultbea groups.
Vegetation
Vegetation is dominated by Molinia and Calluna and the catchment is treeless. The surrounding moorland is managed for red deer and low numbers of feral goats are also present.
Soils
Catchment soils consist of peats and peaty podsols alongside extensive areas of exposed rock.
Hydrology
The loch covers an area of 9.3 hectares and is fed by five minor streams, including the Allt Ban Tigh Mhit an Toisich and one large one, the Allt Bealach Ban (after it's confluence with the Allt Creag na h-lolaire). Dammed by moraine, the loch drains five and a half kilometres, almost due south, into the River Carron via the Fionn-abhainn outflow stream. The bathymetry demonstrates twin basins, the larger and deeper of which reaches a depth of 14m.
Site Type
Stationary land-based site
Design of Experimentation
no experimentation
Scale of Experimentation
not applicable
Design of Observation
only observation
Scale of Observation
plot within catchment
Permanent Power Supply
No
Equipment notes
Accommodation in nearby villages
Accessible All Year
Yes
All parts of Site Accessible
No
Permanent Operation
No
Operation Notes
Chemistry sampled monthly. Biological measurements made annually
Site Visit Interval
30
LTER Site Classification
Extensive