Loch Ruthven is a large loch which lies to the southeast of
Loch Ness
Loch Ness (; ) is a large freshwater loch in the Scottish Highlands. It takes its name from the River Ness, which flows from the northern end. Loch Ness is best known for claimed sightings of the cryptozoology, cryptozoological Loch Ness Mons ...
in the
Highland
Highlands or uplands are areas of high elevation such as a mountainous region, elevated mountainous plateau or high hills. Generally, ''upland'' refers to a range of hills, typically from up to , while ''highland'' is usually reserved for range ...
region of
Scotland
Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
. It is long, extends over an area of and is up to deep.Bathymetrical Survey of the Fresh-Water Lochs of Scotland, 1897-1909, Murray & Pullar The most important breeding site in the UK for
Slavonian grebe
The horned grebe or Slavonian grebe (''Podiceps auritus'') is a relatively small and threatened species of waterbird in the family Podicipedidae. There are two subspecies, ''P. a. auritus'' (Slavonian grebe), which breeds in Eurasia, and ' ...
s, it has one of the highest populations of this species in Europe. These rare birds can also be found in several other local lochs. The
RSPB
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) is a Charitable_organization#United_Kingdom, charitable organisation registered in Charity Commission for England and Wales, England and Wales and in Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator, ...
has established a reserve at Loch Ruthven.
Loch Ruthven was designated a
Ramsar site
A Ramsar site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention,8 ha (O)
*** Permanent 8 ha (P)
*** Seasonal Intermittent < 8 ha(Ts)
**