Monach Islands
| Monach Islands | |
|---|---|
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| Waters | North Atlantic |
| archipelago | Outer Hebrides |
| Geographical location | 57 ° 31 ′ N , 7 ° 40 ′ W |
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| Number of islands | 6th |
| Main island | Ceann Ear |
| Total land area | 6 km² |
| Residents | uninhabited |
The Monach Islands , also Heisker ( Scottish Gaelic : ) are an island group that belongs to the Outer Hebrides in Scotland .
geography
The Monach Islands are located around eight kilometers west of the island of North Uist in the Atlantic . The islands are mostly flat and sandy. Wind and water erosion is severe.
Ceann Ear is the largest island in the group with an area of 2.3 km². The highest point is 15 meters high. Ceann Iar is smaller at 1.5 km², the highest point is 19 meters above sea level. When the tide is low , you can get from one island to the other as well as Shivinish Island. The westernmost of the larger islands in the group is Shillay ( Siolaigh ). There are two lighthouses there .
history
Until the 16th century, the Monach Islands should have been reached from Uist at low tide. Then a storm surge destroyed this land bridge. In 1810 the population left the archipelago, as livestock farming was no longer profitable due to overgrazing . The islands were later repopulated after the Highland Clearances ended , only to be abandoned in 1948. The islands have been uninhabited since then. In 1942 the older lighthouse on Shillay lost its function, in 1997 the new lighthouse was built next to it.
You can visit the archipelago with a boat that was used on the Monach Islands before 1948. The old school house was set up for overnight stays.
Flora and fauna
The Monach Islands are nature reserves . No trees grow there, but the flora is rich, especially in the interior of the islands. The largest gray seal colony in Europe is located on the islands . Every year around 10,000 animals come there to mate and raise their young.
