Does loch ness connect to the ocean through any other lochs or strams or rivers?

Question

because my research is contradicting its self

Answer 1

look at this map. It does connect to the sea through a short river, then through Firth of Inverness and Moray Firth to the North Sea.

http://encarta.msn.com/map_701514238/nes...

here (and at some other sites I looked at) the river that connects the lake to the Firth of Inverness is called the River Ness.

http://guide.visitscotland.com/vs/guide/...

Answer 2

Of course it does. Loch (Lake) Ness is NOT landlocked as many people believe. It is connected to the Atlantic from both ends. A series of canals and locks connect the Lake from the Atlantic to the west BUT going east from Loch Ness there is but a few miles of river that join the sea at Inverness. (Inver = river) The river is actually quite large and deep until it nears the lake. Manmade spillways (built when a system of canals was made) hinder the way but not so much that migratory fish (ie: salmon, trout, eels, seals and much more) still manage to swim into the lake every year. Predatory animals follow these spawning schools as well. At times, extreme high tides and seasonal flooding the river swells enough that small whales have been found entering the lake.

Recent discoveries indicate a system of underwater caves that may possibly link the lake to the sea but is as of yet unconfirmed. Since the lake is above sea level many people claim that any caves in the lake cannot exist. The water level would/could not be higher obviously. But if the caves were not water filled entirely (think P-trap beneath your sink) the lake could be above sea level and still be connected to the sea.

I won't ramble anymore on the subject but to answer your question:

There is definitely a direct route to the sea from Loch Ness.