Warning these are very graphic and adults should
check these
before allowing a young viewer to view them..
To view the pictures of the effects click here
The Scottish Highlands exist in one of the world's harshest climates, yet this natural and untamed setting provides a unique habitat for some of Great Britain's wildlife. The dramatic setting of the Scottish HIghlands, with it beautiful islands, m lochs, mountains, and craggy coastline, provides a vital habitat for wildlife. From the golden eagle to the wildcat, the animals of the Highlands remain remote, even today, from the interference of humans.
Geology of the Highlands: The clearly identifiable boundary of the Scottish Highlands was produced by a series of dislocations in the earth's crust, known as the Highland Boundary Fault. It runs from Stone haven on the north east coast of Scotland to the northern section of the Isle of Aran. The craggy rocks of the Highlands create a rugged and inhospitable contrast to the Midland Valley and the Scottish Lowlands to the south and east.
The rocks forming the Highlands are among the most ancient in the world. Thrown upward by the heavings off the years more than 600 million years ago, granite and other rocks formed mountains that were once as high as the Himalayas. the carving action of glaciers during the ice ages, along with millions of years of weathering and erosion, have shaved the peaks to their present height. Coarse grained rocks underlie the far northwest, including the islands of the Outer Hebrides. These rocks are thought to be 2.6 billion years old remnants of a continent that once attached Canada to Scandinavia.
HIghland Wildlife: The wildcat, one of Great Britain's scariest animals,. is now confined mainly to the Scottish Highlands. Resembling a heavily built tabby cat, it is a fierce animal, hunting rabbits, mice, and other small mammals. The wildcat feeds mainly at dawn and dusk; it hides away during the day to avoid contact with humans or their dogs.
Another rare, cat sized hunter found in the Scottish Highlands is the pine martin, a member of the weasel family and thought to be Great Britain's rarest mammal. Found in the mountains and forests of the western and central Highlands, the pine martin uses its agility to hunt animals such as indigenous red squirrel.
The Golden Eagle: The golden eagle, the second largest bird of prey in Great Britain, is sometimes spotted soaring effortlessly on the updrafts along the edge of a cliff. In Great Britain, it is found only in Scotland. Although it is dark brown in color, the golden eagle gets its name from he gold colored feathers that develop on the bird's head over time. A silent and solitary hunter, the golden eagle catches its prey by swooping low, ad then, by swooping low, and then, by partially folding its large, powerful wings, dropping rapidly. It uses its talons to kill the prey and its curved beak to rip open touch skin or hide. But despite its great size and spectacular hunting skills, the golden eagles relies as much apon carrion (dead animals) for its food as it does apon killing other birds or mammals itself.
Scottish farmers, fearing that eagles would prey on their lambs, killed many eagles with poisons and pole traps. But observation later showed that eagles generally attacked lambs that were already close to death from sickness or starvation/. It is now illegal to kill golden eagle in Scotland.
Other information about the Scottish Highlands: The ptarmigan, a bird slightly smaller than the more common red grouse, lives on the heather moors and peat bogs of the Highlands. It mottled plumage turns white in winter. The red grouse feeds on heather, berries and insects. While the Mountain hares loose the blue tint to their fur and turn completely white in the winter. The rock ptarmigan's plumage serves as camouflage in the Highlands. The Scottish wildcat is one of the fiercest members of the animal kingdom. The Grampian Mountains are among the most ancient in the world. The catlike pine martin inhabits the remote wilderness of the Scottish Highlands.
Did you know: The deepest lake in Scotland is Loch Morar near Inverness, over 1,000 feet deep at its deepest point.
Loch Lomond, more than 22 miles long, is Scottish largest lake.
Reaching a height of almost 4,500 feet, the highest mountain in Great britain is Ben Nevis, in Scotland.
Scotland has more than 160 mountain peaks over 3,000 feet high.
The river Tay, which almost 75 miles long, is
the longest river in Scotland.
The tallest waterfall in Great Britain, with
a drop of about 2,000, is in Sutherland Scotland.
The coldest place in Britain is Braemar, with an average annual temperature of 43 degrees F.
To return to animal menu click here