Kirk Dam is an impounding
dam
A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface water or underground streams. Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption, industrial use, a ...
, located 1.5 kilometres south of
Rothesay
Rothesay ( ; gd, Baile Bhòid ) is the principal town on the Isle of Bute, in the council area of Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies along the coast of the Firth of Clyde. It can be reached by ferry from Wemyss Bay, which offers an onward rail ...
, and is separated by a
causeway
A causeway is a track, road or railway on the upper point of an embankment across "a low, or wet place, or piece of water". It can be constructed of earth, masonry, wood, or concrete. One of the earliest known wooden causeways is the Sweet Tra ...
from the much larger
Loch Fad
Loch Fad is a freshwater loch on the Isle of Bute in Scotland.
Its name means "long loch" in Scottish Gaelic. It lies on the Highland Boundary Fault.
Its surface area is , fairly large for a freshwater loch on an island in Scotland.
It is the ...
to the south-west. It was built to provide water to the cotton mills of the town, and is now the habitat for a variety of marshland birds. The earthfill dam is 6 metres high and records show it was constructed in the late 18th century.
See also
*
List of reservoirs and dams in the United Kingdom
References
External links
"Argyll and Bute Council Reservoirs Act 1975 Public Register"Bathymetrical Survey of the Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland, 1897-1909
Reservoirs in Argyll and Bute
1700s in Scotland
Dams in Scotland
Isle of Bute
Dams completed in the 18th century
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