CLYDE, a river in the s. of Scotland. the only great British river, besides the Severn, flowing west. Commercially it is the most important river in Scotland, and the romantic beauty of its scenery is widely celebrated. It rises by several large streams in the semicircular range of the Lead, Lowther, and Moffat hills and drains the shires of Lanark, Renfrew, and Dumbarton. The main and southmost source, the Daer, runs n., and receives the Fowtrail, the Clyde (a smaller stream, after junction with which, the main stream is called the C.), and other streams, preserving its mountain character to Roberton, upwards of 20 m. below the source of the Daer. The C. then bends round Tinto hill towards Biggar,* from whence it flows n.w., w., and s.w., to about 4 m. above Lanark, thence pursuing a n.w. course through Lanarkshire, and between Dum barton and Renfrew shires, past Lanark, Hamilton, Glasgow, Renfrew, and Dinba•ton, near which town it opens into the firth of Clyde. In this course it receives a number of streams, and flows through a rich, fertile, wooded valley, often extending into level plains, and often with bold wooded banks. From 2 m. above to 4 mu. below Lanark occur the celebrated falls of the C., a series of cascades and rapids, the largest in Scot land for quantity of water—the total descent, in the course of 6 in., being 230 ft., over old red sandstone rocks, amid very picturesque scenery. Two of the falls are above, and two below Lanark. Bonniton Jinn, 2 tn. above Lanark, is a cascade_of 30 ft., with some
parts only 4 ft. broad. Corra lion, half a mile below the last, is the grandest fall, forming three distinct leaps—in all, 84 ft. high. Dundaf fall is ten ft. high. Stonebyres lion, 2 m. below Corra lion, forms three distinct falls—in all 70 feet. Below Glasgow, the C. expands into an estuary, navigable by the largest vessels, and at Greenock it attains a breadth of about 4 miles. Opposite this point it communicates with the Gareloch, and a little below, with Loch Long on the north. Its course, which from has been w. n.w., now turns suddenly s., in which direction, inclining alittle to the w., it continues to tow between Argyle and Bute, and Cantire on the w., and Renfrew and Ayr shires on the e., until it becomes identified with time North channel at Ailsa Craig, where its breadth is about 30 miles. The C. from its source to Glasgow is, by its windings, 75 in. long, and from Glasgow to the south end of Cantire, 48 miles. Its basin occupies 1500 sq. m., and consists of carboniferous strata and trap rocks, the latter chiefly forming the bordering mountains. Floods sometimes raise its waters 20 ft., and it has changed its course at Renfrew, which was once close to it. Clydesdale, or the valley of the C., is noted for its coal and iron mines, orchards, and horses. Bell, in 1812, launched on the C. the first boat in Europe successfully propelled by steam.