Noss Head

Noss Head MPA
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Noss Head seen from the west
Map showing the location of Noss Head MPA
Map showing the location of Noss Head MPA
The location of Noss Head within Caithness.
LocationCaithness, Scotland
Coordinates58°28′44″N 3°03′03″W / 58.479°N 3.0509°W / 58.479; -3.0509
Area800 ha (2,000 acres)[1]
DesignationScottish Government
Established2014
OperatorMarine Scotland

Noss Head is a headland on the north-west coast of Scotland that overlooks Sinclairs Bay. It lies approximately 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) north-east of Wick in Caithness, in the Highland council area of Scotland.

Noss Head was first mentioned in the historical record as early as the 2nd century AD by Greek geographer Ptolemaios as Verubium Promontorium.[2]

Noss Head Lighthouse

Main article: Noss Head Lighthouse

Noss Head Lighthouse first entered service in 1849, and consists of an 18-metre-high (59 ft) cylindrical tower, which is painted white. It supports a single gallery and a lantern with a black cupola. It is notable as being the first lighthouse that was built with a diagonally paned lantern room. In 1987 the light was converted to automatic operation. The lighthouse is still owned and operated by the Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB).[3]

Marine Protected Area

A sea area of 800 ha (3.1 sq mi) off Noss Head has been designated as a Marine Protected Area (MPA) since 2014.[1] It is home to the largest bed of horse mussels known in Scottish waters, which lies at a depth of between 35 and 45 m below sea level. Living amongst the mussel beds are many other species, including soft corals, tubeworms, barnacles, sea firs, and sea mats, brittlestars, crabs, worms and molluscs.[4]

The MPA is designated a Category IV protected area by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b "Noss Head MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  2. ^ Ian Richmond: Verubium Promontorium.(in German) In: Realencyclopädie der classischen Altertumswissenschaft (RE). Vol. VIII A,2, Stuttgart 1958, col. 1688.
  3. ^ "Noss Head". Northern Lighthouse Board. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  4. ^ "Noss Head Marine Protected Area Summary". Scottish Government. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Noss Head". Protected Planet. Retrieved 12 October 2020.


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