Whilst we were in Aviemore we visited the Green Lochan, An Lochan Uaine in Gaelic. Look at the photograph - the water really does look green. I've been trying to find out why. I'd guess that copper had leached into the water. The malachite ore of copper is green. Copper chloride is green, but it also poisonous so that can't be the reason. I've been looking for answers on the net. Some sources say that glacial lakes are green because of the way particles suspended in the water scatter light but the last time there was a glacier here would have been over 10000 years ago. So a mystery at the moment. The lochan gets a mention in this poem on the back of the door of the nearby Ryvoan bothy where you can sleep on the floor for free (bring your own fire wood)
We were interested because it was written by a woman from Burgh by Sands near Wigton, although they get the name of the village wrong in the bothy copy!
