Editing River Tay

{{Short description|Longest river in Scotland}}{{distinguish|text=[[Tay River]] in Ontario, Canada}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2013}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2013}}
{{Infobox river
| name               = River Tay
| name_native        = 
| name_native_lang   = 
| name_other         = ''Tatha''
| name_etymology     = 
<!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP -->
| image              = St. Matthew's Church and Smeaton's Bridge.jpg
| image_size         = 250px
| image_caption      = Looking upstream (north) along the Tay from the centre of [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]]. In view are [[St Matthew's Church, Perth|St Matthew's Church]] and [[Perth Bridge]]
| map                = 
| map_size           = 
| map_caption        = 
| pushpin_map        = 
| pushpin_map_size   = 
| pushpin_map_caption = 
| mapframe           = yes
| mapframe-zoom      = 8
<!---------------------- LOCATION -->
| subdivision_type1  = country
| subdivision_name1  = [[Scotland]]
| subdivision_type2  = State
| subdivision_name2  = [[United Kingdom]]
<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->
| length_km = 193
| width_min          = 
| width_avg          = 
| width_max          = 
| depth_min          = 
| depth_avg          = 
| depth_max          = 
| discharge1_location= 
| discharge1_min     = 
| discharge1_avg     = {{cvt|220|m3/s|cuft/s|}}
| discharge1_max     = 
<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
| source1            = Allt Coire Laoigh
| source1_location   = [[Ben Lui]], [[Stirling (council area)|Stirling council area]] / [[Argyll and Bute]], [[Scotland]] 
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|56|23|07|N|4|47|36|W|display=inline}}
| source1_elevation  = {{convert|720|m|abbr=on}}
| mouth              = [[Firth of Tay]], [[North Sea]]
| mouth_location     = Between [[Perth, Scotland]] and [[Dundee, Scotland]]
| mouth_coordinates  = {{coord|56|21|18|N|3|17|54|W|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation    = {{convert|0|m|abbr=on}}
| progression        = 
| river_system       = 
| basin_size_km2 = 4970
| tributaries_left   = [[River Lyon (Tay River)|River Lyon]], [[River Tummel]], [[River Isla, Perthshire|River Isla]]
| tributaries_right  = [[River Almond, Perth and Kinross|River Almond]], [[River Earn]], [[River Braan]]
| custom_label       = 
| custom_data        = 
| extra              = 
}}

The '''River Tay''' ({{langx|gd|Tatha}}, {{IPA|gd|ˈt̪ʰa.ə|IPA}}; probably from the conjectured [[Common Brittonic|Brythonic]] ''Tausa'', possibly meaning 'silent one' or 'strong one' or, simply, 'flowing'<ref name=":0"> David Ross, ''Scottish Place-names'', p. 209. [[Birlinn (publisher)|Birlinn Ltd.]], [[Edinburgh]], 2001.</ref>) is the longest [[List of rivers of Scotland|river]] in [[Scotland]] and the [[Longest rivers of the United Kingdom|seventh-longest]] in [[Great Britain]]. The Tay originates in western Scotland on the slopes of [[Ben Lui]] ({{langx|gd|Beinn Laoigh}}), then flows easterly across the [[Scottish Highlands|Highlands]], through [[Loch Dochart]], [[Loch Iubhair]] and [[Loch Tay]], then continues east through Strathtay (see [[Strath]]), in the centre of Scotland, then southeasterly through [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]], where it becomes tidal, to its mouth at the [[Firth of Tay]], south of [[Dundee]]. It is the largest river in the United Kingdom by measured [[discharge (hydrology)|discharge]].<ref name=Hydrological>{{cite report |title=River Tay, United Kingdom |publisher=Peer-Euraqua network of hydrological observatories |url=http://www.peer.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/projects/flagship_projects/PEER_Euraqua/Tay%20UK.pdf |access-date=2010-12-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720171434/https://www.peer.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/projects/flagship_projects/PEER_Euraqua/Tay%20UK.pdf|archive-date=20 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Its [[drainage basin|catchment]] is approximately {{convert|2000|sqmi|km2|abbr=off}}, the [[River Tweed|Tweed]]'s is {{convert|1500|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}} and the [[River Spey|Spey]]'s is {{convert|1097|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}}.

The river has given its name to Perth's [[Tay Street]], which runs along its western banks for {{convert|830|yd|m|abbr=off}}.

==Course==
[[File:Tay.catchment.Scotland.jpg|thumb|Catchment of the River Tay within Scotland.]]
[[File:Tay.catchment.jpg|thumb|Catchment of the River Tay.]]
[[File:Tay.tributaries.jpg|thumb|Tributaries of the River Tay.]]

The Tay drains much of the lower region of the Highlands. It originates on the slopes of [[Ben Lui]] (''Beinn Laoigh''), around {{convert|25|mi|km|-1|abbr=on}} from the west coast town of [[Oban]], in [[Argyll and Bute]].<ref name=Hydrological/> In 2011, the Tay Western Catchments Partnership determined as its source (as based on its 'most dominant and longest' tributary) a small lochan on [[Allt Coire Laoigh]] south of the summit.<ref name=":1">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-12243508|title=BBC News - Source of River Tay 'pinpointed'|work=BBC News|date=21 January 2011 }}</ref> The river has a variety of names in its upper catchment: for the first few miles it is known as the River Connonish; then the River Fillan; the name then changes to the [[River Dochart]] until it flows into Loch Tay at [[Killin]].

The River Tay emerges from [[Loch Tay]] at [[Kenmore, Perth and Kinross|Kenmore]], and flows from there to [[Perth, Scotland|Perth]] which, in historical times, was its [[lowest bridging point]]. Below Perth the river becomes tidal and enters the Firth of Tay. The largest city on the river, [[Dundee]], lies on the north bank of the Firth. On reaching the North Sea, the River Tay has flowed {{convert|120|mi|km|-1|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite book |last1=Clayton |first1=Phil |title=Headwaters: Walking to British River Sources |date=2012 |publisher=Frances Lincoln Limited |location=London |isbn=9780711233638 |page=204 |edition=First}}</ref> from west to east across central Scotland.

The Tay is unusual amongst Scottish rivers in having several major tributaries, notably the [[River Earn|Earn]], the [[River Isla, Perthshire|Isla]], the [[River Tummel]], the [[River Almond, Perth and Kinross|Almond]] and the [[River Lyon (Tay River)|Lyon]].<ref name=Hydrological/>

A flow of {{convert|2268|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}} was recorded on 17 January 1993, when the river rose {{convert|6.48|m|ftin|abbr=on}} above its usual level at Perth, and caused [[1993 Perth flood|extensive flooding in the city]]. Were it not for the [[hydroelectric|hydro-electric]] schemes upstream which impounded runoff, the peak would have been considerably higher. The highest flood recorded at Perth occurred in 1814, when the river rose {{convert|7|m|ft|abbr=on}} above its usual level, partly caused by a blockage of ice under Smeaton's Bridge.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Black |first=Andrew |date=2018-01-18 |title=Remembering the Great Tay Flood of January 1993 |url=https://sites.dundee.ac.uk/hydrology/remembering-the-great-tay-flood-of-january-1993/ |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=Dundee Hydrology |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Several places along the Tay take their names from it, or are believed to have done so:
*[[Broughty Ferry|Broughty]] - ''Bruach Tatha'', Bank of the Tay
*[[Taymouth Castle|Taymouth]] - Near the mouth of [[Loch Tay]].
*[[Tayside]] - A former Scottish Government region

==Nature and conservation==
[[File:Tayside Beaver mother and kit June 5, 2010 Ray Scott.jpg|thumb|220x220px|Tayside [[Eurasian beaver|beaver]] with her kit. Courtesy of Ray Scott 2010.]]
The river is of high biodiversity value and is both a [[Site of Special Scientific Interest]] (SSSI) and a [[Special Area of Conservation]]. The SAC designation notes the river's importance for [[Atlantic salmon|salmon]] (''Salmo salar''), [[European otter|otters]] (''Lutra lutra''), [[brook lamprey]]s (''Lampetra planeri''), [[European river lamprey|river lamprey]]s (''Lampetra fluviatilis''), and [[sea lamprey]]s (''Petromyzon marinus'').<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/8366|title=River Tay SAC|publisher=NatureScot|access-date=6 October 2020}}</ref> The Tay also maintains flagship population of [[freshwater pearl mussel]] (''Margaritifera margaritifera'').<ref name=Hydrological/> Freshwater pearl mussels are one of Scotland's most endangered species and the country hosts two-thirds of the world's remaining stock.<ref>{{cite report |title=River Tay Special Area of Conservation (SAC) - Advice to developers when considering new projects which could affect the River Tay Special Area of Conservation |publisher=Scottish Natural Heritage|url=https://www.nature.scot/sites/default/files/Publication%202011%20-%20River%20Tay%20SAC%20-%20Advice%20to%20developers%20when%20considering%20new%20projects%20which%20could%20affect%20the%20River%20Tay%20SAC.pdf |access-date=6 October 2020|page=6}}</ref>

The Tay is internationally renowned for its salmon fishing and is one of the best salmon rivers in western Europe, attracting anglers from all over the world. The lowest {{convert|10|mi|km|abbr=off|spell=on}} of the Tay, including prestigious beats like Taymount or Islamouth, provides most of the cream of the Tay. The largest rod-caught salmon in Britain, caught on the Tay by [[Georgina Ballantine]] in 1922, weighing {{convert|64|lb|kg|abbr=off}}, retains the British record. The river system has salmon fisheries on many of its tributaries including the Earn, Isla, Ericht, Tummel, Garry, Dochart, Lyon and Eden.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fish Tay |publisher=FishPal |date=2011-01-11 |url=http://www.fishpal.com/Scotland/Tay/index.asp?dom=Tay |access-date=2011-01-15 }}</ref> Dwindling catches include a 50% reduction in 2009 so the Tay District Salmon Fisheries Board ordered a catch-and-release policy for females all season, and for males until May, beginning in the January 2010 fishing season. Research by the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation has shown that the number of salmon dying at sea has doubled or trebled over the past 20 years, possibly due to overfishing in the oceans where salmon spend two years before returning to freshwater to spawn. The widespread collapse in Atlantic salmon stocks suggests that this is not solely a local problem in the River Tay.<ref>{{cite news |title=In Scotland, Anglers Told to Put River Tay Salmon Back |date=2010-01-11 |author=Frank Urquhart |publisher=Atlantic Salmon Federation |url=http://www.asf.ca/news.php?id=491&type=news |access-date=2011-01-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706165055/http://www.asf.ca/news.php?id=491&type=news |archive-date=6 July 2011 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

A section of the Tay surrounding the town of [[Dunkeld and Birnam|Dunkeld]] is designated as a [[National scenic area (Scotland)|national scenic area]] (NSA),<ref name=map>{{cite web|url=https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/9146|title=River Tay (Dunkeld) National Scenic Area|publisher=NatureScot|access-date=6 October 2020}}</ref> one of 40 such areas in Scotland, which are defined so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and to ensure its protection by restricting certain forms of development.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/protected-areas-and-species/protected-areas/national-designations/national-scenic-areas|title=National Scenic Areas|publisher=NatureScot|access-date=6 October 2020}}</ref> The River Tay (Dunkeld) NSA covers 5,708&nbsp;[[hectares|ha]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Environment/Countryside/Heritage/Areas/maps|title=National Scenic Areas - Maps|publisher=Scottish Natural Heritage|date=2010-12-20|access-date=2018-05-21}}</ref>

The first sustained and significant population [[Eurasian beaver]] (''Castor fiber'') living wild in Scotland in over 400 years became established on the river Tay catchment in Scotland as early as 2001, and has spread widely in the catchment, numbering from 20 to 100 individuals in 2011.<ref name=Halley/> These beavers were likely to be either escapees from any of several nearby sites with captive beavers, or were illegally released, and were originally targeted for removal by [[NatureScot|Scottish Natural Heritage]] in late 2010.<ref>{{cite news |title=Perthshire beavers to be rounded up |author=Iain Howie |newspaper=Perthshire Advertiser |date=2010-12-03 |url=http://www.perthshireadvertiser.co.uk/perthshire-news/local-news-perthshire/2010/12/03/perthshire-beavers-to-be-rounded-up-73103-27756560/ |access-date=2010-12-29 }}</ref> Proponents of the beavers argued that no reason exists to believe that they are of "wrong" genetic stock.<ref name=Halley>{{cite journal |title=Sourcing Eurasian beaver Castor fiber stock for reintroductions in Great Britain and Western Europe |journal=Mammal Review |date=January 2011 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-2907.2010.00167.x |author=Duncan J. Halley |volume=41 |pages=40–53|doi-access=free }}</ref> In early December 2010, the first of the wild Tayside beavers was trapped by Scottish Natural Heritage on the [[River Ericht]] in [[Blairgowrie and Rattray|Blairgowrie]], [[Perthshire]] and was held in captivity in [[Edinburgh Zoo]], dying within a few months.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sole trapped beaver Erica died in captivity |date=2011-04-06 |newspaper=Courier News |url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Perthshire/article/12512/sole-trapped-beaver-erica-died-in-captivity.html |access-date=2011-04-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110407094109/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Perthshire/article/12512/sole-trapped-beaver-erica-died-in-captivity.html |archive-date=7 April 2011 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In March 2012 the Scottish Government reversed the decision to remove beavers from the Tay, pending the outcome of studies into the suitability of re-introduction.<ref name=taybeavers>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-17387962|title=Plan to trap River Tay beavers reversed by ministers|date=2012-03-16|work=BBC News|access-date= 2018-03-29}}</ref>

As part of the study into re-introduction, a trial release project was undertaken in [[Knapdale]], [[Argyll]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/7419183.stm |title=UK &#124; Scotland &#124; Glasgow, Lanarkshire and West &#124; Beavers to return after 400 years |work=BBC News |date=2008-05-25 |access-date=2010-03-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8072443.stm |title=UK &#124; Scotland &#124; Glasgow, Lanarkshire and West &#124; Beavers return after 400-year gap |work=BBC News |date=2009-05-29 |access-date=2010-03-15}}</ref><ref name="Scottish">{{Cite web|url=http://www.scottishbeavers.org.uk/about-the-trial/|title=About the trial|website=www.scottishbeavers.org.uk|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-04-14}}</ref> alongside which the population of beavers along the Tay was monitored and assessed.<ref name="taybeavers"/> Following the conclusion of the trial re-introduction, the Scottish Government announced in November 2016 that beavers could remain permanently, and would be given protected status as a native species within Scotland. Beavers will be allowed to extend their range naturally. To aid this process and improve the health and resilience of the population a further 28 beavers will be released in Knapdale between 2017 and 2020,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/news/beaver-population-increased-knapdale/|title=Beaver population increased in Knapdale|date=2017-11-28|publisher=Scottish Wildlife Trust|access-date= 2018-03-29}}</ref> however there are no plans at present to release further beavers into the Tay.

==Transport==
[[File:Tay Bridge from south after accident.jpg|alt=Sepia photograph of the Tay Bridge after the accident. Shot from the South it shows the middle section of the bridge to be missing.|thumb|Tay Bridge from the South after the accident]]
In the 19th century, the [[Tay Rail Bridge]] was built across the firth at [[Dundee]] as part of the [[East Coast Main Line]], which linked [[Aberdeen]] in the north with [[Edinburgh]] and [[London]] to the south. The bridge, designed by [[Thomas Bouch|Sir Thomas Bouch]], officially opened in May 1878. On 28&nbsp;December 1879 the bridge collapsed as a train passed over. The entire train fell into the firth, with the loss of 75 passengers and train crew. The event was commemorated in a poem, [[The Tay Bridge Disaster]] (1880), written by [[William McGonagall]], a notoriously unskilled Scottish poet. The critical response to his article was enhanced as he had previously written two poems celebrating the strength and certain immortality of the Tay Bridge. A second much more well received poem was published in the same year by the German writer [[Theodor Fontane]].<ref name=Smith>Edward C. Smith III: ''The Collapse of the Tay Bridge: Theodor Fontane, William McGonagall, and the Poetic Response to the Humanity's First Technologocal Disaster''. In: Ray Broadus Browne (ed.), Arthur G. Neal (ed.): ''Ordinary Reactions to Extraordinary Events''. Popular Press (Ohio State University), 2001, {{ISBN|9780879728342}},  pp. 182-193</ref> [[A. J. Cronin]]'s first novel, ''[[Hatter's Castle]]'' (1931), includes a scene involving the [[Tay Bridge Disaster]], and the 1942 [[Hatter's Castle (film)|filmed version]] of the book recreates the bridge's catastrophic collapse. The rail bridge was rebuilt, with the replacement bridge opening on 11 June 1887.

A passenger and vehicle ferry service operated across the River Tay between Craig Pier, Dundee and [[Newport-on-Tay]] in [[Fife]]. In Dundee, the ferries were known as "the Fifies".<ref>{{cite news |title=The Making of Modern Dundee |url=http://www.themcmanus-dundee.gov.uk/sites/default/files/moderndundee.pdf |work=www.themcmanus-dundee.gov.uk |access-date=22 February 2022}}</ref> The last vessels to operate the service were [[Paddle Steamer|PS]] ''B. L. Nairn'' and two more modern ferries equipped with [[Voith Schneider Propeller]]s, [[Motor Vessel|MV]]s ''Abercraig'' and ''Scotscraig''. The service was discontinued on the opening of the [[Tay Road Bridge]] on 18 August 1966. The Tay Road Bridge carries the [[A92 road]] between Dundee and southern Fife.

The [[Jubilee Bridge, Tay|Jubilee Bridge]] is a {{Convert|225|m|adj=on}}-long bridge over the Tay that carries the [[A9 road (Scotland)|A9 road]] near Dunkeld. That bridge will be doubled as part of the [[A9 dualling project|upgrade program]] by 2028 (initially 2025).

==Cultural references==
The Tay bridge is the subject of [[William McGonagall]]'s poems "Railway Bridge of the Silvery Tay" and "[[The Tay Bridge Disaster]]", and in the German poet [[Theodor Fontane]]'s poem "''Die Brück' am Tay''{{-"}}. Both deal with the Tay bridge disaster of 1879, seeing the bridge's construction as a case of human hubris and expressing an uneasiness towards the fast technological development of mankind.<ref name=Smith/>

The river is mentioned in passing in the [[Steeleye Span]] song "The Royal Forester". Symphonic power metal band [[Gloryhammer]] mentioned the river in some of their songs as "''silvery Tay''" or "''mighty river Tay''".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gloryhammer - Legends from Beyond the Galactic Terrorvortex - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives |url=https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Gloryhammer/Legends_from_Beyond_the_Galactic_Terrorvortex/766651 |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=www.metal-archives.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Gloryhammer - The Epic Rage of Furious Thunder Songtext |url=https://www.songtexte.com/songtext/gloryhammer/the-epic-rage-of-furious-thunder-73adee59.html |access-date=2023-10-11 |website=Songtexte.com |language=de}}</ref> Many Rolls-Royce civil aero-engines are named after British rivers, one of which is the [[Rolls-Royce Tay (turbofan)|Rolls-Royce Tay]].

==See also==
*[[List of crossings of the River Tay]]
*[[List of navigation authorities in the United Kingdom]]
*[[List of rivers of Scotland]]
*[[List of waterway societies in the United Kingdom]]
*[[Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland]] (RAFTS)

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

== Further reading ==
* ''From the [[Ganges|Ganga]] to the Tay'' by [[Bashabi Fraser]], 2009. Luath Press Ltd. {{ISBN|1906307954}}.

==External links==
{{Commons category|River Tay}}
* [http://www.tafac.freeuk.com/perthcon/wave.htm The Development of the Historic Burgh of Perth]

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[[Category:River Tay| ]]
[[Category:Tay catchment| ]]
[[Category:National scenic areas of Scotland]]
[[Category:Rivers of Argyll and Bute]]
[[Category:Rivers of Fife]]
[[Category:Rivers of Perth and Kinross]]
[[Category:Rivers of Scotland]]