THE FRESH-WATER LOCHS OF SCOTLAND. 
309 
LOCHS OF THE NAVER BASIN. 
There are five lochs within this basin to be dealt with here, of which 
the largest is Loch Naver, though Loch Coir’ an Fhearna has a greater 
depth ; a few small lochs within the basin could not be sounded by the 
Lake Survey for lack of boats. The overflow from Loch na Meide is 
carried by the Amhainn Bheag and River of Mudale into Loch Naver, 
and shortly after leaving Loch Naver the river Naver is joined by the 
river Mallart, bearing the overflow from Lochs a’ Bhealaich and Coir’ 
an Fhearna, while still further on the river Naver is joined by the 
Langdale burn, bearing the overflow from Loch Syre. Of the total 
area of the basin (nearly 200 square miles), about 119 square miles, 
or 60 per cent., drain into these five lochs. 
Loch na Meide (see Plate LXXI.). — Loch na Meide (or Meadie) lies 
about 10 miles to the south of Tongue, and about 22 miles to the north 
of Lairg, which is the nearest railway station. It trends nearly north 
and south, and is very irregular in outline, the northern portion being 
narrow, while the southern portion widens out considerably ; there is a 
very narrow and shallow constriction near the middle, which practically 
cuts the loch into two portions. It is miles in length, and has a 
maximum breadth near the southern end of over a mile, the mean 
breadth of the entire loch being a quarter of a mile. Its waters cover 
an area of about 555 acres, or nearly 1 square mile, and it drains an 
area of 8 square miles. The maximum depth of 63 feet was observed in 
the wide southern portion of the loch, but towards the eastern shore, 
about 650 yards from the southern end, and only about 100 yards from 
one of the small unnamed islands. The volume of water is estimated at 
498 million cubic feet, and the mean depth at 20J feet. The loch was 
surveyed on September 25, 1902, when the elevation of the lake-surface 
was found, by levelling from bench-mark, to be 488*35 feet above the 
sea. 
Loch na Meide is very irregular in conformation, with many small 
islands in the southern half, the largest of which is named Eilean Mor. 
The deepest water was found near the southern end; a sounding in 
44 feet was taken about 200 yards from the southern shore, and there is 
a small area about one-third of a mile in length exceeding 50 feet in 
