Loch Sgadabhagh

Loch Sgadabhagh or Loch Scadavay is a body of water on the island of North Uist, Scotland. The name may be of Old Norse derivation meaning "lake of tax bay" although if so, the reason is obscure. Loch Sgadabhagh is the largest loch by area on North Uist although Loch Obisary has about twice the volume.

Geography

According to Murray and Pullar (1908) "there is probably no other loch in Britain which approaches Loch Scadavay in irregularity and complexity of outline. It is an extraordinary labyrinth of narrow channels, bays, promontories and islands" The loch is crossed by the main A867 road and the northern and southern portions are "connected by such a small channel under the road that in time of flood the south loch may temporarily rise some feet higher than the other, though normally they are at the same level".

Located at NF862683, it stretches for over 7.25 kilometres (4.50 mi), is over 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) broad in places and has a total shore line of 80.5 kilometres (50.0 mi), yet the mean depth is only 2.75 metres (9.0 ft). The narrow channels leading into some of the elongate arms are often less than 1 metre (3.3 ft) in depth. The total area is 453 hectares (1,120 acres) and the maximum depths are 11.2 metres (37 ft) in the north loch and 15.1 metres (50 ft) in the south loch.