196 THE FRESH-WATER LOCHS OF SCOTLAND 
PART HL— THE LAKES 
Full particulars as to the dimensions, depth, and other physical 
features of the lakes sounded by the Lake Survey will be found in 
Vol. IL 
Area I 
This area is chiefly one of mountain and moor lying in a condition 
of untamed nature. The only areas of cultivation are either in the 
glens or on the lower upland slopes ; but excepting in the most favour- 
able parts, farming cannot be said to be a very thriving occupation. 
There is very little sheep-farming, because the hills are required for 
deer. The only large manufacturing industry is that of the British 
Aluminium Company at Foyers, which is located there because of a 
convenient and adequate water supply. A considerable number of the 
inhabitants find occupation in the rearing of game, as the district 
is largely devoted to sport. In some places there are plantations of 
considerable size, but a scientific system of profitable sylviculture is not 
the general practice, the trees usually having been planted to afford 
shelter to houses and farms, or for game. 
The scenery is frequently very beautiful, as those who have passed 
by steamer through the Caledonian Canal will admit. The wildest 
scenery, however, is only to be found amongst the mountains, and 
these are frequently difficult of access. The dominant moor vegetation 
usually consists of plants of the orders Ericaceae and Sphagnaceae ; 
but in many places this natural vegetation is being destroyed by 
burning, in order to further the expansion of grasses and grass-like 
plants which afford food to the numerous deer. In consequence of 
this natural vegetation the mountains and moors are nearly every- 
where covered with peat. The rain-water, therefore, which falls upon 
the mountains has to percolate through enormous quantities of peat 
before reaching the lochs, so that their water is, as a rule, brown and 
peaty. This peat extract has a great influence upon the flora of the 
lochs, as has been already mentioned. Only in a few districts where 
there are bands of limestone, such as on the hills north of Glen 
Urquhart, or where peat is practically absent, are there lochs whose 
water is not distinctly peaty. In fact, the yellow-brown appearance 
of the water cannot be overlooked by the most casual observer when 
passing through the Caledonian Canal, of which Lochs Ness, Oich, 
and Lochy form the greater part. 
We may begin our inspection of the lochs of this area at Loch 
Ness ; thence we pass by way of Loch Oich to some mountain lochs 
north of Lochs Lochy and Oich. From there we proceed to the 
lochs lying on the desolate mountains both to the south and north of 
