A large group of islands located in the northwest of Europe is called the British. In addition to Great Britain and Ireland, this archipelago also includes the Hebrides. In the autumn of 2015, they were heard by many, as on October 21, the first ballistic missile intercept in Europe was carried out near the Hebrides.
Reserved corner of northern nature
The archipelago is located off the western coast of Scotland. The two chains in the Atlantic Ocean are separated by the Hebrides Sea and the straits of the North Minch and Little Minch. Just over 500 rocky and mostly high islands and islets, of which only 100 are inhabited, are divided into the Outer Hebrides (one chain) and the Inner Islands (second chain).
What is the surface of these northern lands? Of the total area, equal to 7.2 thousand square meters. km, lakes belong to 1.6 thousand square meters. km. The rest of the surfaceMost of it is either rocky or swampy. There are many peat bogs on the swampy plains. In addition, there are lava fields here, troughs and karrs are found - traces of ancient glaciation. Some islands, such as Skye, have low mountains slightly over 1,000 meters above sea level.
Severe beauty fans
The Hebrides, often called "the archipelago at the end of the earth", "the realm of wind and waves", are very impressive with their harsh northern beauty. The stone blocks blown by the winds took on amazing and bizarre shapes, reminiscent of giant sculptures that rose straight from the foamy waves. Not everyone likes such beauty, but tourism is one of the revenue items of the local budget, along with fishing, agriculture and the oil industry.
UK Region
The Outer and Inner Hebrides have different administrative subordination. The Western Isles, or Nah-Elenan Shiar, are the Western, or Outer, Hebrides. Scotland, of which they are a part, has held these territories since 1266. Under the Treaty of Perth, the Outer Hebrides were ceded to her by Norway. This document ended the long rivalry between the two countries for the right to over the islands.
The Kingdom of Scotland itself was independent from 854 to 1707. But then it became a region of Great Britain and, judging by the recent referendum, it will not receive freedom and independence soon. Based on this fact, all the islands belonging to Scotland, allare equally part of the UK.
Scottish westernmost islands
The western link of the archipelago, that is, the Outer Hebrides, consists of 15 islands that have a permanent population, and dozens of uninhabited landmasses. The Western Isles are separated from the Inner Hebrides and Great Britain by the Hebrides Sea and the North Minch. This area includes an uninhabited rock located to the north. The right to Rockall is contested from Scotland by Great Britain, Denmark, Ireland and Iceland. Lewis and Harris, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist and Barra are the largest parts of the archipelago known as the Outer Hebrides.
Small Western Tier Islands
In addition to small rocks rising from the waves and skerries, this part includes the Flann Islands - a small archipelago located 23 kilometers north of the largest piece of land in Lewis and Gariss.
The Flann Islands have been uninhabited since 1971. Another desert archipelago, abandoned by the population in 1930, is located 64 km west of North Uist. It's called St Kilda. Rhone and Soulisker are islands far removed from the main mass, and they also belong to the Outer Hebrides.
Local Features
Of course, of all the tourist flow directed to Scotland, these 119 islands are the least visited. But if travelers get here, in one of the 32 regions of Scotland, they will find the classic beauty of the north-west of this country. It refers to the amazing castles of the ancientScottish families, white beaches, hills and heaths, green meadows and thickets of undersized birch. The traditions of Gaelic Scotland and ancient taste preferences are preserved here - strong alcohol and hearty, satisfying food. But tourists can also be attracted by bird markets, sightings of seal rookeries and whales.
Sights and artifacts
All the Hebrides are primarily famous for their gloomy monumental old castles, such as Kimisul and Dunstaffnage, Skipness and Dunolly. The Benedictine monastery on Iona and the cathedral in Saddel are beautiful. The islands have preserved places of worship of the ancient aborigines, the most prominent of which is Callanish. He is just in the territory of the Outer Hebrides, on the Isle of Lewis.
This megalithic group is the largest Neolithic site in the British Isles, although due to its remoteness it is not as famous as Stonehenge and Avebury. Here, on the largest stretch of land in the Outer Hebrides, a unique artifact was found in 1831, known as the Chess from the Isle of Lewis. They are 76 figures carved from walrus tusk, presumably in the 12th century, by carvers from Trondheim (Nidaros), the third largest city in Norway.
The largest island of all the Hebrides
Clarification needed on what constitutes the Isle of Lewis. This is one of the parts of the largest island of Lewis and Harris, whose area is 2179 square meters. km. It so happened historically that these two areas, Lewis and Harris,called individually islands, although this is not true.
The administrative center and largest settlement of the Outer Hebrides is Stornoway (population over 19,000). It is here that the largest factory for the production of Harris Tweed, a local fabric, is located. There is an airport 4 km from Stornoway, which has direct flights to Glasgow and Edinburgh.
The nature of the Hebrides is amazing (photos are attached to the material). It should be noted that there are alpine lakes on the Isle of Lewis. Their fresh water, flowing out, rushes into the ocean along wide rocky ledges. One such terrace called Grimersta is one of the main attractions of this island.
Inner Hebrides
The Inland, or British, Hebrides are located along the coast of Great Britain. The largest of them is Skye.
These islands, according to the same Perth Treaty, also went to Scotland, but in 1707 they were taken away from it and became part of the British kingdom. The total area belonging to the Inner Hebrides is 4,158 thousand square kilometers, the population living here permanently exceeds 19,000 people.
The most beautiful island
The largest of the Inner Hebrides is the aforementioned Isle of Skye with an area of 1656 sq. km. This is followed by Mull (875), Islay (620) and so on. Skye is part of a small archipelago known as the Askrib Islands. Interesting object to visitis the tidal island of Sunday. Tidal is a piece of land that is separated from the mainland or a neighboring island by an artificial or natural channel that disappears at low tide. And on the very picturesque island of Kanna, located near Sunday, at low tide, you can cross the watts - coastal shallows that are exposed with the outflow of water. Unusually beautiful is the island of Aova with bas alt slopes. And how impressive is Dunvegan Castle, located on the Isle of Skye!
Most visited by tourists
The Hebrides (photos are presented in the article), and Skye especially, are very picturesque.
This island was connected to the mainland in 1995 by a bridge. In addition, the ferry service connecting the port village of Mallai with the island is always at the service of tourists. Skye is called "Scotland in miniature". It should be noted that throughout this area of the British Isles, the production of woolen fabrics - tweed - is developed. Therefore, sheep, from the wool of which it is made, are found here in large quantities. The inner islands boast Fingal's Cave (Isle of Staffa). It impressed Felix Mendelssohn, who visited here in 1829, so much that he wrote a concert overture en titled "The Hebrides, or Fingal's Cave."
Nature of the Hebrides
As noted above, the region where the Hebrides are located (the northern Atlantic Ocean) is very severe - the average temperature in January is 4-6 degrees Celsius, and in July - 12-14. It often rains, precipitation falls until2000 mm per year. The weather can change dramatically within half an hour. And, of course, constant winds blow here. As for the local flora and fauna, which is somewhat poor compared to the large British Isles, it boasts several species that are found only in this territory and are listed in the Red Book. This is a long-snouted seal, a chough, a white-tailed eagle, an ordinary guillemot.