River Tay Fact File
Country: Scotland
Length: 188 km (117 miles)
Source: Allt Coire Laoigh, Ben Lui, Scottish Highlands
Mouth: Firth of Tay, North Sea
Other Facts About the River Tay
- The River Tay is the longest river in Scotland
- In it’s upper course, the River Tay has a number of different names, including: the River Connonish, the River Fillan and the River Dochart.
- The river becomes tidal below Perth.
- The Tay has several tributaries, including: the Earn, the River Tummel, the Isla and the Almond.
- The Tay is well-known for its Atlantic salmon and its population of freshwater pearl mussels.
- In 2007 a Eurasian beaver was captured in the River Tay. This was the first beaver to have lived wild in Scotland since the 18th century. It is thought that more than 20 beavers live in the Tay.
- In terms of volume of discharge, the Tay is largest river in the United Kingdom.
- Dundee and Perth are the largest towns within the river’s catchment.
- The River Tay has often flooded. Perth suffered really bad flooding 1990 and 1993 and lots of money has since been spent improving flood defences. In 1819, the level of the River Tay was seven metres higher than its normal level.
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