Nor Loch

In order to protect the town from those attempting to conquer Edinburgh, the Nor Loch, often referred to as the North Loch, was first and foremost constructed.

Despite being largely man-made, the Nor Loch in Edinburgh had its beginnings as a natural hollow during the last Ice Age in Britain. From the foot of Castle Hill to Market Street and Waverley Station, the loch blanketed the marshy terrain. One of the spookiest and most intriguing facts about Edinburgh is that the location, which was formerly a lake that was converted into a sewer and a burial site for corpses, is now known as Princes Street Gardens.

Nor Loch was severely polluted because it was utilized for both inexpensive body disposal and storage of raw sewage. It was rumored that the smell was intolerable. At least 300 witch trials are thought to have taken place in the aforementioned, extremely polluted Nor Loch. The majority of the 'witches' during the 16th and 18th centuries would be put to the test by diving into Loch Ness. If they lived, it was assumed that they were guilty and would receive a death sentence. It was assumed that they had been innocent if they had been demised during the trial. The Nor Loch has a few tales to tell about the history of the city, including how it contributed to the creation of Edinburgh's other name, Auld Reekie.