Loch Vaa
{{Short description| A lake in the Highlands of Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox body of water
|name = Loch Vaa
|image = File:Loch Vaa - geograph.org.uk - 1173541.jpg
|caption = View from the bank
|alt = The foreshore if a lake, with pine trees on the edge
|image_bathymetry =
|caption_bathymetry =
|pushpin_map = Scotland#United Kingdom
|location = Scotland, United Kingdom
|coords = {{coord|57|14|06|N|3|48|03|W|region:GB_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}}
|type = Freshwater loch
|inflow = Spring-fed
|outflow =
|catchment =
|basin_countries = Scotland
|length =
|width =
|area = {{convert|39|acres|ha}}
|depth =
|max-depth =
|volume =
|residence_time =
|shore =
|elevation =
|islands =
|cities =
}}
Loch Vaa is a body of water in Highland, Scotland. It is located between Boat of Garten and Aviemore in the Cairngorms National Park. It is used for fishing, swimming and boating and its wooden boathouse is a popular location for tourists and photographers. The loch also contains the remains of a historic crannog structure. In 2018-19 the loch was subject to a dramatic drop in water levels over a dry winter period and was not restored to usual levels until prolonged rainfall in July 2019.
Description
Loch Vaa is a {{convert|39|acre|ha|adj=on}} spring-fed freshwater loch which is said to have "gin clear" waters.{{cite news |title=Mystery of the disappearing loch |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-48132901 |accessdate=20 October 2019 |work=BBC News |date=3 May 2019}} The loch is owned by a local estate but a number of businesses have been granted rights for fishing, swimming and boating activities. The fishery is managed and the lake is stocked with brown and rainbow trout; it is also frequented by wild grebe. The loch's wooden boathouse, which is used for fishing, is surrounded by water and is a popular destination for tourists and photographers.
The loch contains the remains of a crannog, a historic fortified structure constructed on an artificial island.{{cite news |title=Water level rises at mysteriously-draining loch |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-48838538 |accessdate=20 October 2019 |work=BBC News |date=2 July 2019}} Birch timber recovered from the Loch Vaa crannog dates it to the 13th century, though the structure may be even older - dating back to the time of the Picts or earlier Iron Age peoples.{{cite news |title=Loch's mysterious drop to '750-year low level' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-50067632 |accessdate=20 October 2019 |work=BBC News |date=17 October 2019}}
2018/2019 water loss
Between September 2018 and May 2019 the loch suffered a dramatic drop in water levels. Over this period some {{convert|35,000,000|impgal|litres|abbr=off}} of water were lost, causing the water level to fall by {{convert|1.4|m|feet|abbr=off}}. By mid-September boats were unable to use the famous boathouse, which soon became accessible by dry land; the owner even considered relocating the structure.{{cite news |last1=Barrie |first1=Josh |title=Mystery as picturesque fishing loch loses millions of gallons of water |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/environment/loch-vaa-scotland-cairngorms-aviemore-losing-water-pictures-502623 |accessdate=20 October 2019 |work=I News |date=3 May 2019 |language=en}} By May 2019 the loch fell to its lowest level in 750 years and archaeological experts were called in to check the historic crannog remains. The crannog was found to have been undamaged by the loss of water, which is key to prevent the remains from deteriorating, but came close with the water level just centimetres above the surviving timbers.
Local councillor Bill Lobban called for a full investigation into the water level issues by public bodies.{{cite news |last1=Henderson |first1=Michelle |title=Calls for investigation into the mystery of the disappearing Highland loch |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/highlands/1740199/highland-councillor-calls-for-investigation-into-disappearing-loch/ |accessdate=20 October 2019 |work=Press and Journal |date=4 May 2019}} The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) claimed that the cause was the comparatively dry winter of 2018/19 which had led to low groundwater levels in the area. There was some suspicion directed at Scottish Water which had recently drilled a new borehole at Aviemore. However they claimed that their borehole was located {{convert|3|mi|km}} upstream and that the local glacial geology isolated the loch from the abstraction site. Water levels rose significantly by early July 2019 following 37 days of rain and were at a 20-year high by 2020.{{cite news |title=Mystery 'empty loch' is now fullest in 20 years |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-52444082 |accessdate=27 April 2020 |work=BBC News |date=27 April 2020}}
Gallery
File:Crannog on Loch Vaa - geograph.org.uk - 1490531.jpg|The crannog island
File:Boathouse, Loch Vaa - geograph.org.uk - 601895.jpg|Boathouse
File:Loch Vaa - geograph.org.uk - 1619.jpg|Fishermen on the loch