river in Scotland, flowing for 107 miles (172 km) northeast across the Highlands into the North Sea. It rises at about 1,150 feet (350 metres) in the Corrieyairack Forest and derives tributaries from the Monadhliath Mountains, the Grampian Mountains, and the Cairngorms. In its wider, lower valley of Strathspey, it swings between great sweeps of terraces and finally enters the sea by a shifting mouth across a shingle spit between Buckie and Lossiemouth. It is esteemed for salmon, and its valley is known for high-quality whisky distilleries.