The highest summit in the Central Lowlands is Mount Merrick 2,764 feet. .
Scotland is said to be "a country of striking beauty" (Horn, 1998). This nation has many deep glacial lakes that are known locally as lochs. The largest lake in all of Britain is Loch Lomond, about 28 square miles. A famous loch is the Loch Ness, which has been "the subject of a centuries-old controversy over an alleged monster in its depths" (Horn, 1998). There are also numerous inlets of rivers known as firths. Large rivers enter the sea as firths; they are named for the rivers, such as the Clyde River into the Clyde Firth. The major rivers of Scotland, although not used for navigation (besides the Clyde River) include the Tay River, which is the longest in Scotland, the Clyde, Forth, Tweed, Dee, and the Spey River. .
The Scottish climate is similar to the rest of the countries in Great Britain. The average temperatures are as follows: January ranges from 37-39aF, depending on the area, and July averages between 57-59aF again depending on the area of the country (Scotland.net, 2000). Typically, the west is warmer than the east in winter months, but temperatures are more equal during the summer. The west also receives the most rainfall more than 150 inches annually (Horn, 1998). "Often the best weather is found in May and September. These are also the months that the northwest of Scotland is relatively midge free" (Scotland.com, 2000). .
"The most common species of trees indigenous to Scotland are oak and conifers chiefly fir, pine, and larch" (Encarta, 1999). There are not many woodland areas in Scotland; the only important forests are in the southern and eastern Highlands. "Practically all of the cultivated plants of Scotland were imported from America and the European continent" (Encarta, 1999).
The largest population of a native mammal to Scotland is the deer. The most common type is the red deer, found in the Highlands, but the roe deer are also found.