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Ross-shire is a northern Scottish county. It is comprised of a mainland section which extends to the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, and an island portion that contains most of Lewis Island, along with the other inhabited western islands of Gillean, Croulin, Dry and Ewe, Horisdale, and Martin and Tanera More.
The portion of the shire fronting the North Sea has several firths, including Inner Moray Firth, Beauly Firth, Cromarty Firth, and Dornoch Firth. The side that fronts the Atlantic Ocean contains a coastline longer than three hundred miles. The main bays and sea lochs include Loch Alsh, Lock Duich, Loch Carron, Loch Torridon, Loch Kishorn, Upper Loch Torridon, Loch Shieldaig, Loch Ewe, Gairloch, Gruinard Bay, Enard Bay, and Little Loch Broom.
For mountain peaks, Ross-shire has a number of them on the southern border. These include Scour Ouran at 3,505 feet, Ben Attow at 3,383 feet, Mam Soul at 3,862 feet, Cair Eige at 3,877 feet, Sgurr na Lapaich at 3,773, Ben Mohr at 3,570 feet, the Saddle at 3,317 feet, and An Riabhachan at 3,696 feet. Other high peaks in the north are Ben Eay that has four mountains over 3,000 feet apiece, and the Liatach that has heights of 3,358 and 3,456 feet above sea level. To the northeast soars the Ben Slioch at 3,217 feet, and the Fannich range with six heights of 3,000 feet each. The northeast features the peak of Ben Wyvis at 3,429 feet, the An Socach at 3,295 feet, and the An Cabar at 3,106 feet. The northwest features the Challich Hills with heights of 3,483 feet and 3,474 feet. The peninsula of the Black Isle and Easter Ross areas are level by comparison.
The Orrin is the longest running stream in the county at twenty-six miles. When it reaches Aultgowrie, this stream races into a narrower gorge and drops sufficiently to make the Orrin Falls. The Blackwater River runs for nineteen miles until it reaches the Conon. After Loch Garve, this river forms the Rogie Falls that are tiny but beautiful. The Conon River drains from Loch Luichart and creates a few lovely rapids and cascades before running for twelve miles into the Cromarty Firth. Ross-shire also features the deepest waterfalls in all of the U.K. at the Glomach Falls in its southwest. These falls run a forty feet wide and reach the point where they fall three hundred and seventy feet. Another pretty set of waterfalls are the Measach Falls that are created by the Droma Stream.
Ross-shire contains numerous lovely freshwater lakes. Loch Maree is the largest. Loch Skinashink has a seven mile shoreline and a few wooded islands with deer. Loch Fada lies 1,005 feet above sea level. Other notable lakes are the Loch Maree with Heron shelters, Loch Luichart in a crescent shape, Loch Gannish surrounded by mountains, and Loch Monar and Mullardoch.
The more significant straths in the Ross-shire are the Strathbran, the Strathconon, the Strathpeffer, the Strathgarve, and the Strathcarron. The county also boasts a number of lovely glens, including the Glenn Orrin, Glen Sheil, Glen Carron, and Glen Elchaig.
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