SCOTLAND'S newest Unesco World Heritage Site has been announced as the Flow Country, with the accolade being granted on Friday.
It sits on several sites across the north of Caithness and Sutherland, covering about 1500 square miles of well-preserved peatland.
At the western edge, the area is bounded by a line running roughly from Loch Fleet to Loch Shin, and another line running from the northern extent of Loch Shin up to Tongue.
In the east, the area ends along a line running roughly from a point south of Wick up to Reay.
Reacting to the news, Scottish Government Net Zero Secretary Gillian Martin said it was a “momentous day” for both Caithness and Sutherland and Scotland overall.
“The Flow Country is an area of truly outstanding natural beauty and its diverse ecosystems and peatlands are a vital part of our efforts to combat climate change and nature loss.
"This new global prominence will help preserve the area for many generations to come," she said.
The site is the 35th World Heritage Site in the UK, but is the first natural one in Scotland.
In addition, it is the world's first peatland bog to gain the prestigious status.
