Flow Country
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
The Flow Country, Forsinard, Sutherland, looking towards the Ben Griams | |
Interactive map of The Flow Country | |
| Location | Scotland |
| Criteria | Natural: ix |
| Reference | 1722 |
| Inscription | 2024 (46th Session) |
| Area | 187,000 ha (460,000 acres) |
| Coordinates | 58°24′N 3°42′W / 58.4°N 3.7°W |
Flow Country Location of Flow Country in Scotland | |
The Flow Country (Scottish Gaelic: Dùthaich nam Boglaichean) is a vast area of bog peatland in Caithness and Sutherland, northern Scotland. It is the largest blanket bog in Europe, and covers about 4,000 km2 (1,500 mi2). It is an area of deep peat, dotted with bog pools, and is a very important habitat for wildlife. As peat is largely made up of the remains of plants, which are themselves made up of carbon, it locks up large stores of carbon for thousands of years. This carbon would otherwise be released to the atmosphere and contribute to global warming. In 2024 the Flow Country was awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO on account of its unparalleled blanket bog habitat. It includes the Forsinard Flows National Nature Reserve and the Caithness and Sutherland Peatlands.