EXPLAINED: Ness Bridge lights reach 15th anniversary after unlikely beginning
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They have been used to mark special occasions like the Coronation and Caley Thistle reaching the Scottish Cup final.
They have also been used to signify solidarity with Ukraine during the war with Russia.
And they have been used to help charitable causes raise awareness on certain days in the calendar.
What are we describing? The Ness Bridge lights of course.
And this is the 15th anniversary of them being switched on.
How did they start?
For many of us, they will now be seen as a common feature of the River Ness landscape but can anyone remember what they were linked in with for an unlikely beginning?
It was, in fact, the third edition of the no-longer-running Rock Ness music festival.
Yes, Fatboy Slim returned to headline that event near Dores, with Razorlight and The View among others on the bill.
And Highland Council seized the opportunity to tie it in with the Ness Bridge illuminations.
Bridge illuminations will further enhance the night-time scene
The local authority stated back then: "Rock Ness revellers will be treated to an additional visual spectacle this weekend with the switching on of the feature lighting on the Ness Bridge."
Then Inverness Provost Bob Wynd said at the time: “I am delighted that we are able switch on these lights this weekend – one of the busiest in tourism terms this summer.
"The views along the River Ness, with the castle in the background, are quite stunning day and night and the bridge illumination will further enhance the night-time scene and underline the importance of the river to the evening economy.
"I hope it will give visitors an added thrill and leave them with an even better impression of their trip to Inverness.”
Started simple
The lighting is computer controlled across a wide spectrum of colour and has been successfully used to provide visually dynamic light affects around the world, including the London Eye.
In the early days, the lighting sequence was set to be a simple colour change through each of the colours – white, blue, cyan, magenta, red, yellow and green – but the council promised from the start that "more interesting light combinations" would be developed over time.
'Endless possibilities'
The £167,000 project, part of the city lighting strategy known as illuminatinginverness, started as being fully funded through the Inverness City Vision Cities Growth Fund monies for 2006-2008 and was designed to complement lighting work already in place around Inverness Castle, as well as the Streetscape programme happening at the time.
Then city partnership officer Marie Mackintosh said: “The lighting system allows for endless possibilities in mixing the colours. Over the coming months we hope to design some interesting schemes and we are particularly keen to include the community in this, perhaps through workshops or competitions.”
Not all plain sailing
The project attracted some concerns from the Ness District Fishery Board during preparatory works to install the lights because they feared it could hamper salmon movement.
Members wanted consideration of the type of lights and timing of when the lights would be on.
Those involved in the project spoke to fish experts and held a six-month consultation about the scheme prior to it be implemented.
River hydro scheme
Around the time when the lights were being put in place, Inverness councillors agreed to a feasibility study into re-instating a hydro scheme on the River Ness.
It was reported at the time that power generated from it could be used in the lighting project to offset some costs.
Provost Wynd said Inverness had 4000 hours of darkness each year, adding: "Using hydro-power is not only an environmentally friendly option, it will also be a cost-effective option to illuminate Inverness."
Last June, the Hydro Ness scheme near Whin Park was fully operational and is providing power to Inverness Leisure.
The aim of the city's lighting strategy was to illuminate historical architecture, make energy efficiencies and reduce light pollution.
