Sutherland

Sutherland, a county in the N. of Scotland to the W. of the North Sea, and having Pentland Firth on the N., Ross on the S., Caithness on the N.E., and North Minch on the W. It forms part of the N.E. peninsula of Scotland, and is about 50 miles long and broad. The coast to the W. is bold and precipitous, and much indented, but that on the E. is flat and sandy, save where Ord juts into the sea at the junction of this county with Caithness. The interior is mountainous, and has fine glens and valleys. The highest point is Ben More (3,273 feet). The rivers drain N.E. and W. and are of no great importance, but afford good fishing. The lakes are many, and some large, the largest being Lochs Ship (16 miles long), Naver, Hope, Assynt. There is much old red sandstone in the county and a wonderful coal-measure, well-nigh useless for fuel, and connected with this are lias and oolite, almost peculiar to this spot of Scotland. The indigenous trees are birch, alder, and oak, but there are many plantations. Grazing is the chief occupation, and many potatoes are grown. The late Duke of Sutherland reclaimed much waste land. The county is represented in Parliament by one member.