Loch Ness

Loch Ness, long, narrow lake, northern Scotland, forming part of the Caledonian Canal. It extends in a north-eastern direction for about 39 km (24 mi) from Fort Augustus to a point near the city of Inverness. The average width of the lake is about 2 km (1 mi), and the greatest depth is about 230 m (754 ft). It is drained by the Ness River into Moray Firth. The lake is reportedly the home of the so-called Loch Ness monster, but its existence has never been proven. The lake is situated in the rift known as the Great Glen, which cuts across Scotland from coast to coast between Fort William and Inverness.