Loch Ness is a lake (specifically a "freshwater loch"), not a fjord. Geologically, it is a long, narrow, and exceptionally deep body of water located in the Great Glen of Scotland. While it was carved by glacial activity over 10,000 years ago—similar to how fjords are formed—Loch Ness is entirely landlocked and contains freshwater. A fjord, by definition, is a long, narrow inlet with steep cliffs, created by a glacier, but it is connected to the sea and contains salt or brackish water. Loch Ness is connected to the sea only via the River Ness and the man-made Caledonian Canal. It is the second-largest loch in Scotland by surface area but the largest by volume, containing more freshwater than all the lakes in England and Wales combined. In 2026, it remains one of the most famous bodies of water in the world, not just for its geological scale, but for the enduring legend of the Loch Ness Monster. Its dark, peat-stained waters reach depths of up to 230 meters, making it a "deep-water" lake that shares some visual similarities with Norwegian fjords but remains a distinct freshwater ecosystem.