Editing Firth of Forth

{{short description|Estuary of Scotland's River Forth}}
{{For|the Genesis song|Firth of Fifth}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox body of water
| name               = Firth of Forth
| native_name        = 
| native_name_lang   = 
| image              = The Forth bridges from the air (geograph 5835049).jpg
| alt                = A view of the firth with three metal bridges across it
| caption            = The Forth bridges looking northwest
| pushpin_map        = Scotland #Scotland Fife
| pushpin_map_alt    = 
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| image_bathymetry   = 
| alt_bathymetry     = 
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| location           = Scotland, United Kingdom
| coordinates        = {{Coord|56.048|-3.053|region:GB_type:waterbody_source:GNS-enwiki_scale:1000000|display=inline,title}}
| type               = 
| inflow             = 
| ocean              = 
| outflow            = 
| catchment          = 
| basin_countries    = Scotland, United Kingdom
| agency             = 
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| length             = 
| width              = 
| area               = 
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| max-depth          = 
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| residence_time     = 
| salinity           = 
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| embedded           = {{Designation list
| embed = yes
| designation1 = Ramsar
| designation1_date = 30 October 2001
| designation1_number = 1111<ref>{{Cite web|title=Firth of Forth|website=[[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar]] Sites Information Service|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/1111|access-date=25 April 2018}}</ref>}}
}}

The '''Firth of Forth''' ({{Langx|gd|Linne Foirthe}}) is a [[firth]] in [[Scotland]], an inlet of the [[North Sea]] that separates [[Fife]] to its north and [[Lothian]] to its south. Further inland, it becomes the [[estuary]] of the [[River Forth]] and several other rivers.<ref>{{cite web|title=Forth area management plan 2010 – 2015|url=https://www.sepa.org.uk/media/37297/forth_area-management-plan.pdf#page=5|website=SEPA|access-date=9 April 2017}}</ref>

==Name==
''Firth'' is a cognate of ''[[fjord]]'', a Norse word meaning a narrow inlet.
 
''Forth'' stems from the name of the river; this is {{lang|cel-x-proto|vo-rit-ia}} ('slow running') in [[Proto-Celtic]], yielding {{lang|gd|[[:gd:Linne Foirthe|Foirthe]]}} in [[Old Gaelic]] and {{lang|cy|[[:cy:Aber Gweryd|Gweryd]]}} in Welsh.<ref>{{cite book |last=Field |first=John |title=Place Names of Great Britain and Ireland |page=74 |location=London |publisher=David & Charles |date=1980 }}</ref>

It was known as ''{{lang|la|Bodotria}}'' in [[Roman Empire|Roman]] times and was referred to as ''{{lang|grc|Βοδερία}}'' in [[Ptolemy]]'s ''[[Geography_(Ptolemy)|Geography]]''. In the [[Norse mythology|Norse]] [[saga]]s it was known as the {{Lang|non|Myrkvifiörd}}.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Anderson |first1=Joseph |last2=Hjaltalín |first2=Jón A. |last3=Goudie |first3=Gilbert |date=3 January 1873 |title=The Orkneyinga saga |url=https://archive.org/details/orkneyingasaga00goudgoog |access-date=3 January 2018 |publisher=Edmonston and Douglas |publication-place=Edinburgh |via=[[Internet Archive]] }}</ref> An early [[Welsh language|Welsh]] name is {{lang|cy|Merin Iodeo}}, or the 'sea of {{lang|la|[[Urbs Iudeu|Iudeu]]}}'.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fraser |first=James E. |title=From Caledonia to Pictland: Scotland to 795 |publisher=[[Edinburgh University Press]] |year=2009 |location=Edinburgh |pages=171}}</ref>

==Geography and geology==
Geologically, the Firth of Forth is a [[fjord]], formed by the Forth [[Glacier]] in the [[last glacial period]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.landforms.eu/Lothian/Firth%20of%20Forth.htm|title=Firth of Forth|website=landforms.eu|access-date=|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20191207100854/http://www.landforms.eu/Lothian/Firth%20of%20Forth.htm|archive-date = 7 December 2019}}</ref> 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, Scotland|Harthill]], [[Penicuik]] and the edges of [[Gleneagles Hotel|Gleneagles Golf Course]].<ref>{{cite web|title=No. 87 – The Firth of Forth|url=http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/review/087.pdf#page=12|website=Scottish Natural Heritage|access-date=8 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409200825/http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/review/087.pdf#page=12|archive-date=9 April 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Many towns line the shores, as well as the [[petrochemical]] complexes at [[Grangemouth]], commercial [[Dock (maritime)|dock]]s at [[Leith]], former [[oil platform|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, Fife|Leven]].

===Bridges===
The firth is bridged in two areas. The [[Kincardine Bridge]] and the [[Clackmannanshire Bridge]] cross it at [[Kincardine-on-Forth|Kincardine]], while further east the [[Forth Bridge]], the [[Forth Road Bridge]] and the [[Queensferry Crossing]] cross from [[North Queensferry]] to [[South Queensferry]].

==History==
The [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] reportedly made a bridge of around 900 boats, probably at South Queensferry.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Harrison|first1=Jody|title=Secrets of the Romans' forgotten war against Scotland revealed|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16115154.Secrets_of_the_Romans__forgotten_war_against_Scotland_revealed|access-date=22 May 2018|work=The Herald|date=26 March 2018}}</ref> The inner firth, located between the [[Kincardine Bridge|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 on Forth|Kincardine]]. Historic villages line the Fife shoreline; [[Limekilns]], [[Charlestown, Fife|Charlestown]] and [[Culross]], established in the 6th century, where [[Saint Kentigern]] was born.

Construction of the [[Forth Bridge]], a railway bridge, began in 1882 and it was opened on 4 March 1890 carrying the [[Edinburgh–Aberdeen line]].<ref name="u773">{{cite web | title=The history of the Forth Bridge, Fife | website=Network Rail | date=2019-09-25 | url=https://www.networkrail.co.uk/who-we-are/our-history/iconic-infrastructure/the-history-of-the-forth-bridge-fife/ | access-date=2025-02-16}}</ref>

The youngest person to swim across the Firth of Forth was 13-year-old Joseph Feeney, who accomplished the feat in 1933.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news-2-15012/emma-10-aims-to-break-84-year-old-forth-swimming-record-1-4560672|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190920161555/https://www.scotsman.com/news-2-15012/emma-10-aims-to-break-84-year-old-forth-swimming-record-1-4560672|archive-date=20 September 2019|title=Emma, 10, aims to break 84-year-old Forth swimming record|website=The Scotsman|language=en|access-date=20 September 2019}}</ref> In October 1936, the [[Kincardine Bridge]] opened.<ref name="l107">{{cite web | title=Kincardine On Forth Bridge | website=Canmore | date=1996-02-21 | url=https://canmore.org.uk/site/48119/kincardine-on-forth-bridge | access-date=2025-02-16}}</ref>

On 4 September 1964, the [[Forth Road Bridge]] opened.<ref name="h343">{{cite web | title=Forth Road Bridge History | website=The Forth Bridges  | date=1964-09-04 | url=https://www.theforthbridges.org/about-the-forth-bridges/forth-road-bridge/forth-road-bridge-history/#:~:text=The%20final%20bill%20for%20construction,fourth%20longest%20in%20the%20world.# | access-date=2025-02-16}}</ref> 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''.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Cooper|first1=Henry (director)|title=Forth – Powerhouse for Industry|url=http://movingimage.nls.uk/film/1820|website=Moving Image Archive|publisher=Campbell Harper Films Ltd.|access-date=15 May 2017}}</ref> 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.<ref>Fraser MacDonald, "Scotland's secret tunnel under the Forth", ''The Guardian'', 30 April 2014.</ref>

In January 1987, the first [[Loony Dook]] event took place and which now takes place annually, during which individuals dive or wade into the Forth on New Years Day.<ref name="v829">{{cite web | title=Loony Dookers take the icy plunge | website=BBC NEWS | date=2009-01-01 | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7806037.stm | access-date=2025-02-16}}</ref><ref name="s064">{{cite web | title=Loony Dookers welcome the New Year with icy plunge | website=BBC News | date=2025-01-01 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgl9j4kr8xgo | access-date=2025-02-16}}</ref>

[[File:Theforthbridges fromdalmeny.jpg|thumb|600px|center|Two of the three bridges across the Firth, viewed from [[Dalmeny]], Photo taken before construction began on the [[Queensferry Crossing]].]]
On 27 February 2001, a [[Short 360]] operated by the Scottish airline [[Loganair]] operating as [[Loganair Flight 670A|Flight 670A]] ditched into the Firth of Forth after both of the plane's engines torque went to zero. After a mayday call was initiated the flight went into the water, all happening within the flight's phase of climbing to standard altitude. The only 2 occupants aboard - the captain and first officer, died in the accident. The crash was due to a lack of an established procedure for the flight crew to add engine air intake covers in adverse, windy, weather conditions. <ref>{{Cite web|title=Accident description for Short SD3-60 registration G-BNMT|url=https://asn.flightsafety.org/asn.db/32332|access-date=December 26, 2024|website=Aviation Safety Network}}</ref>

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 per cent.<ref name="hovercraft-trial">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm6PDDj-k_k| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/Lm6PDDj-k_k| archive-date=17 November 2021 | url-status=live|title=Kirkcaldy-Edinburgh hovercraft trial|date=13 July 2007|publisher=The Scottish Executive|access-date=10 January 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref> 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.<ref name="hovercraft-2010">{{cite news|url=http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/topstories/Plans-lodged-for-Forth-hovercraft.5962637.jp|title=Plans lodged for Forth hovercraft|date=7 January 2010 |publisher=Edinburgh Evening News|access-date=10 January 2010}}</ref> Despite its initial success, the project was cancelled in December 2011.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-16113262|title=Council 'killed off' hovercraft|date=9 December 2011|access-date=20 September 2019|language=en-GB}}</ref>

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&nbsp;million tonnes of crude oil per year between tankers, but the proposals were met with determined opposition from conservation groups.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7221917.stm|title=Forth oil transfer plan ruled out|date=1 February 2008|access-date=1 February 2008|publisher=BBC News}}</ref> In November 2008, construction of the [[Clackmannanshire Bridge]] was completed and it opened to traffic.<ref name="q542">{{cite web | title=10 years of the Clackmannanshire Bridge | website=Transport Scotland | date=2008-11-19 | url=https://www.transport.gov.scot/transport-network/roads/bridges-and-structures/the-clackmannanshire-bridge/ | access-date=2025-02-16}}</ref>

In 2011, construction of the [[Queensferry Crossing]] began and the bridge was formally opened on 4 September 2017.<ref name="g865">{{cite web | last=Johnson | first=Simon | title=Queen opens new Forth crossing 53 years to the day after she opened old road bridge | website=The Telegraph | date=2017-09-04 | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/04/queen-opens-new-forth-crossing-53-years-day-opened-old-road/ | access-date=2025-02-16}}</ref>
[[File:The Firth of Forth and its bridges (geograph 5831088).jpg|thumb|centre|600px|From left to right: The [[Queensferry Crossing]], the [[Forth Road Bridge]] and the [[Forth Bridge]] from the [[South Queensferry]] side]]

==Ecology==
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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.the-soc.org.uk/bird-recording/local-recorders-network/areas/birding-advice/69-birding-the-isle-of-may-by-darren-hemsley|title=Birding the Isle of May by Darren Hemsley|website=Scottish Ornithologists' Club|language=en-gb|access-date=20 September 2019}}</ref> A series of sand and gravel banks in the approaches to the firth have since 2014 been designated as a [[Marine Protected Areas in Scotland|Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area]] under the name [[Firth of Forth Banks Complex]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.jncc.gov.uk/PDF/Firth_of_Forth_Banks_Complex_Site_Summary_Document_July14.pdf|title=Firth of Forth Banks Complex Marine Protected Area (MPA)|publisher=[[Joint Nature Conservation Committee]]|access-date=22 October 2019|archive-date=22 October 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022091505/http://archive.jncc.gov.uk/PDF/Firth_of_Forth_Banks_Complex_Site_Summary_Document_July14.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10447|title=SiteLink: Firth of Forth Banks Complex MPA(NC)|publisher=Scottish Natural Heritage|access-date=22 October 2019}}</ref>

The Forth was historically home to a large native population of [[Ostrea edulis|European Oyster]]s.<ref name="Guardian">{{cite web | last=Murray | first=Jessica | title=Oysters doing well in Firth of Forth after reintroduction, say experts | website=the Guardian | date=2024-11-11 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/11/oysters-doing-well-in-firth-of-forth-after-reintroduction-say-experts | access-date=2025-02-16}}</ref> However, by the 1900s these had been fished to extinction in the Forth.<ref name="Guardian"/> A project to introduce some 30,000 oysters back in the forth has been successful at re-establishing the population in the 21st century.<ref name="Guardian"/><ref name="a298">{{cite web | title=Oysters reintroduced to Firth of Forth appear to be 'thriving' | website=Sky News | date=2024-11-11 | url=https://news.sky.com/story/oysters-reintroduced-to-firth-of-forth-appear-to-be-thriving-13252594 | access-date=2025-02-16}}</ref>

==Islands==
{{Main|Islands of the Forth}}
{{stack|[[File:Wfm firth of forth.jpg|thumb|upright=2|Satellite photo of the Firth and the surrounding area]]}}
*[[Bass Rock]]
*[[Craigleith]]
*[[Cramond Island|Cramond]]
*[[Eyebroughy]]
*[[Fidra]]
*[[Inchcolm]]
*[[Inchgarvie]]
*[[Inchkeith]]
*[[Inchmickery]] with Cow and Calf
*[[Lamb (island)|Lamb]]
*[[Isle of May]]
{{clear}}

==Shoreline settlements==
* [[Lowest bridging point]]: [[Stirling]]

'''North shore'''
{{colbegin}}
*[[Aberdour]], [[Alloa]], [[Anstruther]]
*[[Buckhaven]], [[Burntisland]]
*[[Cellardyke]], [[Crail]]
*[[Culross]]
*[[Charlestown, Fife|Charlestown]], [[Limekilns]]
*[[Dalgety Bay]], [[Dysart, Fife|Dysart]]
*[[Earlsferry]], [[East Wemyss]], [[Elie and Earlsferry|Elie]]
*[[Inverkeithing]]
*[[Kincardine-on-Forth|Kincardine]], [[Kinghorn]], [[Kirkcaldy]]
*[[Leven, Fife|Leven]], [[Lower Largo]]
*[[Methil, Fife|Methil]]
*[[North Queensferry]]
*[[Pittenweem]]
*[[Rosyth]]
*[[St Monans]]
*[[West Wemyss]]
{{colend}}
'''South shore'''
{{colbegin}}
*[[Aberlady]]
*[[Blackness, Linlithgow|Blackness]], [[Bo'ness]]
*[[Cockenzie]], [[Cramond]]
*[[Dirleton]], [[Dunbar]], [[Dunglass]]
*[[Edinburgh]]
*[[Fisherrow]]
*[[Grangemouth]], [[Granton, Edinburgh|Granton]], [[Gullane]]
*[[Inveresk]]
*[[Leith]], [[Longniddry]]
*[[Musselburgh]]
*[[Newhaven, Edinburgh|Newhaven]], [[North Berwick]]
*[[Port Edgar]], [[Portobello, Edinburgh|Portobello]], [[Port Seton]]
*[[Prestonpans]]
*[[Seafield, Edinburgh|Seafield]], [[South Queensferry]]
*[[Whitekirk]]
{{colend}}
[[File:FirthofForthmap.png|thumb|upright=1.8|center|Map of the Firth]]

==Places of interest==
{{colbegin}}
*[[Aberlady Bay]], [[River Almond, Lothian|River Almond]], [[Archerfield Links]]
*[[Barns Ness Lighthouse]], [[Bass Rock]] and [[Baldred of Tyninghame|St Baldred's chapel]], [[Belhaven, Scotland|Belhaven]], [[Blackness Castle]]
*[[Caves of Caiplie]], [[Cockenzie and Port Seton|Cockenzie Harbour]], [[Cockenzie Power Station| Cockenzie Power Station (site of)]], [[Cramond|Cramond Beach]], [[Culross]]
*[[Dalmeny House]], [[Dirleton Castle]]
*[[River Esk, Lothian|River Esk]]
*[[Fidra|Fidra Lighthouse]], [[Fisherrow| Fisherrow Harbour]]
*[[Gosford House]], [[Granton, Edinburgh|Granton Harbour]], [[Gullane|Gullane Bents]]
*[[Hopetoun House]], [[Hopetoun Monument]]
*[[John Muir Country Park]], [[John Muir Way]]
*[[River Leven, Fife|River Leven]], [[Longniddry Bents]]
*[[Musselburgh Racecourse]]
*[[Newhaven, Edinburgh| Newhaven Harbour]], [[North Berwick Golf Club]], [[North Berwick Law]]
*[[Portobello, Edinburgh|Portobello Beach]], [[Cockenzie and Port Seton|Port Seton Harbour]], [[Prestongrange Industrial Heritage Museum]], [[Preston Tower, East Lothian|Preston Tower]]
*[[Ravenscraig Castle]], [[Bloodhound (yacht)|Royal Racing Yacht ''Bloodhound'']], [[Royal Yacht Britannia|Royal Yacht ''Britannia'']]
*[[Scottish Fisheries Museum]], [[Scottish Seabird Centre]], [[Seton Sands]], [[St. Fillan's Cave]], [[St. Monans Windmill]]
*[[Tantallon Castle]], [[Torness Nuclear Power Station]], [[River Tyne, Scotland|River Tyne]]
*[[Waterston House]]
*[[Yellowcraigs]]
{{colend}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commonscat}}
{{Wikisource1911Enc|Forth}}
*[http://www.isleofmaybirdobs.org Isle of May bird observatory]
*[https://www.stagecoachbus.com/ ''Forthfast'' experimental hovercraft service, 16–28 July 2007]
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070917171008/http://www.virtualplaces.co.uk/ Inchcolm Virtual Tour]}} a virtual tour around some of the Inchcolm's military defences

{{Islands of the Forth}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Firth of Forth}}
[[Category:Firth of Forth| ]]
[[Category:Estuaries of Scotland|Forth]]
[[Category:Landforms of Fife|Forth]]
[[Category:Firths of Scotland|Forth]]
[[Category:Bodies of water of Scotland|Forth]]
[[Category:Ramsar sites in Scotland]]
[[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy]]
[[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Edinburgh and West Lothian]]
[[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Falkirk and Clackmannan]]
[[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Mid and East Lothian]]
[[Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in North East Fife]]
[[Category:Bodies of water of the North Sea|Forth]]