Noss Head

{{Short description|Headland on the north-east coast of Scotland}}

{{Infobox protected area

| name = Noss Head MPA

| alt_name =

| iucn_category = IV

| photo = Across_Sand_Geo_to_Noss_Head_(geograph_2495387).jpg

| photo_alt =

| photo_caption = Noss Head seen from the west

| photo_width =

| map = Scotland Caithness

| relief = 1

| map_caption = The location of Noss Head within Caithness.

| map_width =

| location = Caithness, Scotland

| nearest_city =

| coordinates = {{coord|58.479|-3.0509|display=inline,title}}

| area_ha = 800

| area_ref =

| established = 2014

| visitation_num =

| visitation_year =

| designation = Scottish Government

| operator = Marine Scotland

| url =

| embedded =

}}

Noss Head is a headland on the north-west coast of Scotland that overlooks Sinclairs Bay. It lies approximately {{convert|5|km|mi}} north-east of Wick in Caithness, in the Highland council area of Scotland.

Noss Head was first mentioned in the historical record as early as the 2nd century AD by Greek geographer Ptolemaios as Verubium Promontorium.{{Cite Pauly|VIII A,2|1688||Verubium Promontorium|Ian Richmond|RE:Verubium Promontorium}}

Noss Head Lighthouse

Noss Head Lighthouse first entered service in 1849, and consists of an {{convert|18|m|ft|adj=mid|-high}} cylindrical tower, which is painted white. It supports a single gallery and a lantern with a black cupola. It is notable as being the first lighthouse that was built with a diagonally paned lantern room. In 1987 the light was converted to automatic operation. The lighthouse is still owned and operated by the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB).{{cite web|url=https://www.nlb.org.uk/lighthouses/noss-head/|title=Noss Head|publisher=Northern Lighthouse Board|accessdate=26 November 2019}}

Marine Protected Area

A sea area of {{convert|800|ha|sqmi|abbr=on}} off Noss Head has been designated as a Marine Protected Area (MPA) since 2014.{{Cite web | url=https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10411|title=Noss Head MPA(NC)|publisher=NatureScot|accessdate=12 October 2020}} It is home to the largest bed of horse mussels known in Scottish waters, which lies at a depth of between 35 and 45 m below sea level. Living amongst the mussel beds are many other species, including soft corals, tubeworms, barnacles, sea firs, and sea mats, brittlestars, crabs, worms and molluscs.{{cite web|url=https://apps.snh.gov.uk/sitelink-api/v1/sites/10411/documents/48|title=Noss Head Marine Protected Area Summary|accessdate=12 October 2020|publisher=Scottish Government}}

The MPA is designated a Category IV protected area by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.{{cite web|url=https://www.protectedplanet.net/555560471|title=Noss Head|publisher=Protected Planet|accessdate=12 October 2020}}

References

Category:Caithness

Category:Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas of Scotland

Category:Headlands of Scotland