LOCH, a lake of Scotland, in the county of Inverness, stretching from S.W. to N.E. for nearly 24 miles, with an average breadth of a mile and a quarter. It is fed by the River Oich, from Loch Oich, and by several other streams, of which the largest are the Moriston, the Foyers, and the Farigar. The depth of the loch near the centre is from 100 to 130 fathoms, its bottom being below the level of the sea; and owing to its great depth the water never freezes. The mountains on either side of the loch are lofty, rugged, and steep, rising to the height of 1200 or 1500 feet above the sea. The waters of the loch are conveyed to the sea by the River Ness, which falls into the Moray Firth at Inverness. Loch Ness is connected by the Caledonian Canal with Inverness on the N.E., and with Loch Oich on the S.W.