Inverness

Inverness , town (1991 pop. 39,736), Highland, N Scotland, on the Moray Firth at the mouth of the Ness River. "Capital of the Highlands," it is a seaport and transportation center due to its proximity to the river and the Caledonian Canal, completed in 1812. The town has diverse light industries, including printing, food processing, distilling, wool weaving, and shipbuilding, in addition to a herring fishery. Electrical and mechanical products and automobile parts are also manufactured. Inverness holds an annual cattle and wool market.

An ancient town, it is thought to have been a Pict stronghold. The castle, reputedly built under Malcolm III (late 11th cent.), was involved in many wars and was blown up by the Jacobites in 1746. A new castle was built in 1835. Frequent invasions have destroyed most of the town's old buildings. Cromwell's Fort was demolished at the Restoration by Charles II. Inverness, a thriving tourist center, has a museum of Highland relics and hosts an annual Highland Gathering.

Inverness City at the head of the Moray Firth on the River Ness; capital of Highland region, n Scotland. A tourist centre with a boatbuilding history, Inverness lies at the ne end of the Caledonian Canal. Its castle was destroyed at the Battle of Culloden, but rebuilt in Victorian times. Pop. (2001) 43,100.