So what is the difference between a loch and a lake? Well, the main distinction is where they are located. Lochs can be found in Scotland and Ireland whilst lakes are found elsewhere in the world. This is because the word 'loch' comes from the Gaelic languages which were historically used in these parts of Britain.

The difference between a loch and a lake is primarily linguistic and geographic rather than scientific. "Loch" is the Scottish Gaelic word for a body of water, and in Scotland, nearly all inland bodies of water are called lochs. There is only one natural body of water in Scotland officially called a "lake"—the Lake of Menteith. Scientifically, they are identical; both refer to a large, inland body of standing water. However, the term "loch" is slightly broader because it also encompasses sea lochs, which are saltwater inlets or fjords that are connected to the ocean but are geographically enclosed enough to resemble a lake. In most other English-speaking countries, these saltwater inlets would be called bays or fjords. So, while every freshwater loch is technically a lake, the term "loch" carries a specific cultural identity tied to the Scottish Highlands and can sometimes refer to saltwater arms of the sea that a standard "lake" would not include.