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Firth of Forth

February 18, 2023

For the Genesis song, see Firth of Fifth.

The Firth of Forth (Scottish Gaelic: Linne Foirthe) is the estuary, or firth, of several Scottish rivers including the River Forth. It meets the North Sea with Fife on the north coast and Lothian on the south.[2]

Firth of Forth
Aerial view of the Forth bridges
Firth of Forth
Firth of Forth
Firth of Forth
Firth of Forth
LocationScotland, United Kingdom
Coordinates56°04′30″N 3°45′00″W / 56.075°N 3.750°W / 56.075; -3.750Coordinates: 56°04′30″N 3°45′00″W / 56.075°N 3.750°W / 56.075; -3.750
Basin countriesScotland, United Kingdom
Designated30 October 2001
Reference no.1111[1]

Name

Firth is a cognate of fjord, a Norse word meaning a narrow inlet.

Forth stems from the name of the river; this is *Vo-rit-ia (slow running) in Proto-Celtic, yielding Foirthe in Old Gaelic and Gweryd in Welsh.[3]

It was known as Bodotria in Roman times. In the Norse sagas it was known as the Myrkvifiörd.[4] An early Welsh name is Merin Iodeo, or the "Sea of Iudeu".[5]

Geography and economy

Geologically, the Firth of Forth is a fjord, formed by the Forth Glacier in the last glacial period.[6] The drainage basin for the Firth of Forth covers a wide geographic area including places as far from the shore as Ben Lomond, Cumbernauld, Harthill, Penicuik and the edges of Gleneagles Golf Course.[7]

Many towns line the shores, as well as the petrochemical complexes at Grangemouth, commercial docks at Leith, former oil rig construction yards at Methil, the ship breaking facility at Inverkeithing and the former naval dockyard at Rosyth, along with numerous other industrial areas, including the Forth Bridgehead area, encompassing Rosyth, Inverkeithing and the southern edge of Dunfermline, Burntisland, Kirkcaldy, Bo'ness and Leven.

 
From left to right The Queensferry Crossing, the Forth Road Bridge and the Forth Bridge from the South Queensferry side.

The firth is bridged in two places. The Kincardine Bridge and the Clackmannanshire Bridge cross it at Kincardine, while further east the Forth Bridge, the Forth Road Bridge and the Queensferry Crossing cross from North Queensferry to South Queensferry. The Romans reportedly made a bridge of around 900 boats, probably at South Queensferry.[8]

From 1964 to 1982, a tunnel existed under the Firth of Forth, dug by coal miners to link the Kinneil colliery on the south side of the Forth with the Valleyfield colliery on the north side. This is shown in the 1968 educational film Forth – Powerhouse for Industry.[9] The shafts leading into the tunnel were filled and capped with concrete when the tunnel was closed, and it is believed to have filled with water or collapsed in places.[10]

 
The Fife-Edinburgh hovercraft service

In July 2007, a hovercraft passenger service completed a two-week trial between Portobello, Edinburgh and Kirkcaldy, Fife. The trial of the service (marketed as "Forthfast") was hailed as a major operational success, with an average passenger load of 85 percent.[11] It was estimated the service would decrease congestion for commuters on the Forth road and rail bridges by carrying about 870,000 passengers each year.[12] Despite its initial success, the project was cancelled in December, 2011.[13]

The inner firth, located between the Kincardine and Forth bridges, has lost about half of its former intertidal area as a result of land reclamation, partly for agriculture, but mainly for industry and the large ash lagoons built to deposit spoil from the coal-fired Longannet Power Station near Kincardine. Historic villages line the Fife shoreline; Limekilns, Charlestown and Culross, established in the 6th century, where Saint Kentigern was born.

 
The Ro-Pax ferry Blue Star 1 passing under the Forth Bridge in the Firth, en route from Rosyth to Zeebrugge.

The firth is important for nature conservation and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The Firth of Forth Islands SPA (Special Protection Area) is home to more than 90,000 breeding seabirds every year. There is a bird observatory on the Isle of May.[14] A series of sand and gravel banks in the approaches to the firth have since 2014 been designated as a Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area under the name Firth of Forth Banks Complex.[15][16]

The youngest person to swim across the Firth of Forth was 13-year-old Joseph Feeney, who accomplished the feat in 1933.[17]

In 2008, a controversial bid to allow oil transfer between ships in the firth was refused by Forth Ports. SPT Marine Services had asked permission to transfer 7.8 million tonnes of crude oil per year between tankers, but the proposals were met with determined opposition from conservation groups.[18]

 
Two of the three bridges across the Firth, viewed from Dalmeny, Photo taken before construction began on the Queensferry Crossing.

Islands

 
Satellite photo of the Firth and the surrounding area
Main article: Islands of the Forth

Shoreline settlements

North shore

South shore

 
Map of the Firth

Places of interest

References

  1. ^ "Firth of Forth". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Forth area management plan 2010 – 2015" (PDF). SEPA. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  3. ^ Field, John:Place Names of Great Britain and Ireland, page 74. London, David & Charles, 1980
  4. ^ Anderson, Joseph; Hjaltalín, Jón A.; Goudie, Gilbert (3 January 1873). "The Orkneyinga saga". Edinburgh, Edmonston and Douglas. Retrieved 3 January 2018 – via Internet Archive.
  5. ^ Fraser, James E. (2009). From Caledonia to Pictland: Scotland to 795. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press. p. 171.
  6. ^ "Firth of Forth". landforms.eu. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  7. ^ (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 April 2017. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  8. ^ Harrison, Jody (26 March 2018). "Secrets of the Romans' forgotten war against Scotland revealed". The Herald. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  9. ^ Cooper, Henry (director). "Forth – Powerhouse for Industry". Moving Image Archive. Campbell Harper Films Ltd. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  10. ^ Fraser MacDonald, "Scotland's secret tunnel under the Forth", The Guardian, 30 April 2014.
  11. ^ "Kirkcaldy-Edinburgh hovercraft trial". The Scottish Executive. 13 July 2007. Archived from the original on 17 November 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
  12. ^ "Plans lodged for Forth hovercraft". Edinburgh Evening News. 7 January 2010. Retrieved 10 January 2010.
  13. ^ "Council 'killed off' hovercraft". 9 December 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  14. ^ "Birding the Isle of May by Darren Hemsley". Scottish Ornithologists' Club. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  15. ^ (PDF). Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 October 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  16. ^ "SiteLink: Firth of Forth Banks Complex MPA(NC)". Scottish Natural Heritage. Retrieved 22 October 2019.
  17. ^ . The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 20 September 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  18. ^ "Forth oil transfer plan ruled out". BBC News. 1 February 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2008.

External links

 
Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article "Forth".
  • Isle of May bird observatory
  • Forthfast experimental hovercraft service, 16–28 July 2007
  • Take a virtual tour around some of the Inchcolm's military defences

February 18, 2023
firth, forth, genesis, song, firth, fifth, scottish, gaelic, linne, foirthe, estuary, firth, several, scottish, rivers, including, river, forth, meets, north, with, fife, north, coast, lothian, south, aerial, view, forth, bridgesshow, scotlandshow, fifeshow, f. For the Genesis song see Firth of Fifth The Firth of Forth Scottish Gaelic Linne Foirthe is the estuary or firth of several Scottish rivers including the River Forth It meets the North Sea with Fife on the north coast and Lothian on the south 2 Firth of ForthAerial view of the Forth bridgesFirth of ForthShow map of ScotlandFirth of ForthShow map of FifeFirth of ForthShow map of FalkirkFirth of ForthShow map of ClackmannanshireLocationScotland United KingdomCoordinates56 04 30 N 3 45 00 W 56 075 N 3 750 W 56 075 3 750 Coordinates 56 04 30 N 3 45 00 W 56 075 N 3 750 W 56 075 3 750Basin countriesScotland United KingdomRamsar WetlandDesignated30 October 2001Reference no 1111 1 Contents 1 Name 2 Geography and economy 3 Islands 4 Shoreline settlements 5 Places of interest 6 References 7 External linksName EditFirth is a cognate of fjord a Norse word meaning a narrow inlet Forth stems from the name of the river this is Vo rit ia slow running in Proto Celtic yielding Foirthe in Old Gaelic and Gweryd in Welsh 3 It was known as Bodotria in Roman times In the Norse sagas it was known as the Myrkvifiord 4 An early Welsh name is Merin Iodeo or the Sea of Iudeu 5 Geography and economy EditGeologically the Firth of Forth is a fjord formed by the Forth Glacier in the last glacial period 6 The drainage basin for the Firth of Forth covers a wide geographic area including places as far from the shore as Ben Lomond Cumbernauld Harthill Penicuik and the edges of Gleneagles Golf Course 7 Many towns line the shores as well as the petrochemical complexes at Grangemouth commercial docks at Leith former oil rig construction yards at Methil the ship breaking facility at Inverkeithing and the former naval dockyard at Rosyth along with numerous other industrial areas including the Forth Bridgehead area encompassing Rosyth Inverkeithing and the southern edge of Dunfermline Burntisland Kirkcaldy Bo ness and Leven From left to right The Queensferry Crossing the Forth Road Bridge and the Forth Bridge from the South Queensferry side The firth is bridged in two places The Kincardine Bridge and the Clackmannanshire Bridge cross it at Kincardine while further east the Forth Bridge the Forth Road Bridge and the Queensferry Crossing cross from North Queensferry to South Queensferry The Romans reportedly made a bridge of around 900 boats probably at South Queensferry 8 From 1964 to 1982 a tunnel existed under the Firth of Forth dug by coal miners to link the Kinneil colliery on the south side of the Forth with the Valleyfield colliery on the north side This is shown in the 1968 educational film Forth Powerhouse for Industry 9 The shafts leading into the tunnel were filled and capped with concrete when the tunnel was closed and it is believed to have filled with water or collapsed in places 10 The Fife Edinburgh hovercraft service In July 2007 a hovercraft passenger service completed a two week trial between Portobello Edinburgh and Kirkcaldy Fife The trial of the service marketed as Forthfast was hailed as a major operational success with an average passenger load of 85 percent 11 It was estimated the service would decrease congestion for commuters on the Forth road and rail bridges by carrying about 870 000 passengers each year 12 Despite its initial success the project was cancelled in December 2011 13 The inner firth located between the Kincardine and Forth bridges has lost about half of its former intertidal area as a result of land reclamation partly for agriculture but mainly for industry and the large ash lagoons built to deposit spoil from the coal fired Longannet Power Station near Kincardine Historic villages line the Fife shoreline Limekilns Charlestown and Culross established in the 6th century where Saint Kentigern was born The Ro Pax ferry Blue Star 1 passing under the Forth Bridge in the Firth en route from Rosyth to Zeebrugge The firth is important for nature conservation and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest The Firth of Forth Islands SPA Special Protection Area is home to more than 90 000 breeding seabirds every year There is a bird observatory on the Isle of May 14 A series of sand and gravel banks in the approaches to the firth have since 2014 been designated as a Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area under the name Firth of Forth Banks Complex 15 16 The youngest person to swim across the Firth of Forth was 13 year old Joseph Feeney who accomplished the feat in 1933 17 In 2008 a controversial bid to allow oil transfer between ships in the firth was refused by Forth Ports SPT Marine Services had asked permission to transfer 7 8 million tonnes of crude oil per year between tankers but the proposals were met with determined opposition from conservation groups 18 Two of the three bridges across the Firth viewed from Dalmeny Photo taken before construction began on the Queensferry Crossing Islands Edit Satellite photo of the Firth and the surrounding area Main article Islands of the Forth Bass Rock Craigleith Cramond Eyebroughy Fidra Inchcolm Inchgarvie Inchkeith Inchmickery with Cow and Calf Lamb Isle of MayShoreline settlements EditLowest bridging point StirlingNorth shore Aberdour Anstruther Buckhaven Burntisland Cellardyke Crail Culross Charlestown Limekilns Dalgety Bay Dysart Earlsferry East Wemyss Elie Inverkeithing Kincardine Kinghorn Kirkcaldy Leven Lower Largo Methil North Queensferry Pittenweem Rosyth St Monans West Wemyss South shore Aberlady Blackness Bo ness Cockenzie Cramond Dirleton Dunbar Dunglass Edinburgh Fisherrow Grangemouth Granton Gullane Inveresk Leith Longniddry Musselburgh Newhaven North Berwick Port Edgar Portobello Port Seton Prestonpans Seafield South Queensferry Whitekirk Map of the FirthPlaces of interest EditAberlady Bay Archerfield Links Barns Ness Lighthouse Bass Rock and St Baldred s chapel Belhaven Blackness Castle Caves of Caiplie Cockenzie Power Station Culross Dalmeny House Dirleton Castle Gullane Bents Hopetoun House Hopetoun Monument John Muir Country Park John Muir Way Longniddry Bents Musselburgh Racecourse North Berwick Golf Club North Berwick Law Prestongrange Industrial Heritage Museum Preston Tower East Lothian Ravenscraig Castle Royal Racing Yacht Bloodhound Royal Yacht Britannia Scottish Fisheries Museum Scottish Seabird Centre Seton Sands St Fillan s Cave St Monans Windmill Tantallon Castle Torness Nuclear Power Station Waterston House YellowcraigsReferences Edit Firth of Forth Ramsar Sites Information Service Retrieved 25 April 2018 Forth area management plan 2010 2015 PDF SEPA Retrieved 9 April 2017 Field John Place Names of Great Britain and Ireland page 74 London David amp Charles 1980 Anderson Joseph Hjaltalin Jon A Goudie Gilbert 3 January 1873 The Orkneyinga saga Edinburgh Edmonston and Douglas Retrieved 3 January 2018 via Internet Archive Fraser James E 2009 From Caledonia to Pictland Scotland to 795 Edinburgh Edinburgh University Press p 171 Firth of Forth landforms eu Retrieved 20 September 2019 No 87 The Firth of Forth PDF Scottish Natural Heritage Archived from the original PDF on 9 April 2017 Retrieved 8 April 2017 Harrison Jody 26 March 2018 Secrets of the Romans forgotten war against Scotland revealed The Herald Retrieved 22 May 2018 Cooper Henry director Forth Powerhouse for Industry Moving Image Archive Campbell Harper Films Ltd Retrieved 15 May 2017 Fraser MacDonald Scotland s secret tunnel under the Forth The Guardian 30 April 2014 Kirkcaldy Edinburgh hovercraft trial The Scottish Executive 13 July 2007 Archived from the original on 17 November 2021 Retrieved 10 January 2010 Plans lodged for Forth hovercraft Edinburgh Evening News 7 January 2010 Retrieved 10 January 2010 Council killed off hovercraft 9 December 2011 Retrieved 20 September 2019 Birding the Isle of May by Darren Hemsley Scottish Ornithologists Club Retrieved 20 September 2019 Firth of Forth Banks Complex Marine Protected Area MPA PDF Joint Nature Conservation Committee Archived from the original PDF on 22 October 2019 Retrieved 22 October 2019 SiteLink Firth of Forth Banks Complex MPA NC Scottish Natural Heritage Retrieved 22 October 2019 Emma 10 aims to break 84 year old Forth swimming record The Scotsman Archived from the original on 20 September 2019 Retrieved 20 September 2019 Forth oil transfer plan ruled out BBC News 1 February 2008 Retrieved 1 February 2008 External links Edit Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica article Forth Isle of May bird observatory Forthfast experimental hovercraft service 16 28 July 2007 Inchcolm Virtual Tour Take a virtual tour around some of the Inchcolm s military defences Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Firth of Forth amp oldid 1127803797, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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