Hirta

Hirta
	Hirta: Village Bay with a view of Dùn
Waters	Atlantic Ocean
Archipelago	St. Kilda Islands
Geographical location	57 ° 49 '2 " N , 8 ° 34' 57" W Coordinates: 57 ° 49 '2 " N , 8 ° 34' 57" W.
surface	6.7 km²
Highest elevation	Conachair ; 430 m
	Map of Hirta

Hirta ( Scottish Gaelic : Hiort ) is the main island of the Scottish St. Kilda Islands. The origin of the name of the island from Irish or Scottish Gaelic or from Norwegian is disputed.

geography

The island is around 6.7 square kilometers. It rises to the 430 meter high Conachair . The coastline is around 15 kilometers long. Most of the coast is very steep. However, there is a natural anchorage near the Hirta in the southeastern offshore island of Dùn , the Village Bay . The uninhabited Dùn was previously used as a cemetery.

history

Hirta was the only island in the St. Kilda archipelago that had been settled for around 2000 years. At times the island was home to Vikings . In more recent times, however, the population was Scottish Gaelic. Occasionally there was immigration from the Outer Hebrides .

The people of Hirta developed a way of life that was unique in Europe and based on catching seabirds in the cliffs of St. Kilda Islands and collecting eggs. To do this, the men rappelled down on the cliffs. On the other hand, they hardly engaged in seafaring or fishing. The seclusion and the life in a small community under inhospitable conditions resulted in a way of life that has parallels to that of hunting indigenous people .

The so-called Cleits or Cleitean represent a special design . They are more or less oval-shaped structures made of dry masonry with covers made of heather plagues , which were used for the dry storage of food, clothing and equipment.

The population of Hirta was around 100 until the 20th century. Due to emigration and death, the number fell so much that British authorities decided to vacate the island. On August 29, 1930, the island's population was brought to mainland Scotland with their belongings.

Few people were allowed to return after 1930. There is a British Forces radar station on Hirta . The last former St. Kilda resident to be evacuated at the age of eight died in April 2016.

Hirta belongs to the St. Kilda archipelago both for UNESCO - World Heritage and since 1987 a UNESCO World Heritage Site . The existing houses of the former island population and the paths will be preserved if possible.

Others

Hirta (in service since 2008) is also the name of a ship owned by the Scottish Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and Marine Scotland Compliance (the offshore oversight) ( IMO 9386794).

Web links

Commons : Hirta - collection of images, videos and audio files

Image of a card by Hirta, Dùn and Soay