Northwest Highlands

Coordinates: 57°30′N 5°0′W / 57.500°N 5.000°W / 57.500; -5.000
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

57°30′N 5°0′W / 57.500°N 5.000°W / 57.500; -5.000 The Northwest Highlands are located in the northern third of

Grampian Mountains by the Great Glen (Glen More). The region comprises Wester Ross, Assynt, Sutherland and part of Caithness. The Caledonian Canal, which extends from Loch Linnhe in the south-west, via Loch Ness to the Moray Firth in the north-east splits this area from the rest of the country. The city of Inverness and the town of Fort William
serve as gateways to the region from the south.

Geology

Highlands Controversy
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View east from Sgurr Mhòr over the "Horns" of Beinn Alligin

.

Climate

Considering its high northerly latitude of about 57 to 58 degrees north and the mountainous terrain, the climate is mild, moderated by the warming influence of the North Atlantic Drift which is a powerful warm western boundary current within the Atlantic Ocean that extends the Gulf Stream northeastward. At low elevations and near the coast the climate is maritime. The summers are mild and wet with average daytime highs under 17 °C, or 62.6 °F. The winters are cool at low elevation with average night-time lows below 0 °C, or 32 °F, but become colder and snowier inland and at higher elevations with the highest tops exhibiting a tundra climate. The Northwest Highlands are, on average, not as cold as the higher, snowier Cairngorm mountains which lie to the southeast. However, on 30 December 1995, the UK's lowest temperature was recorded at Altnaharra, at −27.2 °C (−17.0 °F). This matched a similar recording at Braemar in the Grampians on 11 February 1895 and on 10 January 1982. Snow does not usually lie for significant periods at the coast or at low elevations but may lie for up to 105 days per year, persisting into the summer months, at the highest elevations. Naturally, the area would be a vast birch, pine and montane shrub forest, such as those surviving in Glen Affric.

Geography

The region has steep, glacier-carved mountains, glens and interspersed plains. Many islands (which also vary widely in geography) lie off the coast. Elevations of around 750 metres (2,500 feet) or over are common, as are mountains exceeding 3,000 feet or 914 m (

Munros). The highest point is the summit of Càrn Eige at an elevation of 1,183 metres (3,881 feet) above sea level. By comparison, across the Great Glen to the south, the Grampians includes Ben Nevis
which is highest point in the British Isles at 1,345 metres.

The

Highland Council area
.

List of places in the Northwest Highlands

Towns and villages

Regions and mountain ranges

Glens and lochs

See also

External links

Bibliography

  • Murray, W.H. (1977). The Companion Guide to the West Highlands of Scotland. London: William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. .