North Rona
Rona (Rònaigh) | ||
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Cave on Rona | ||
Waters | North Atlantic | |
Archipelago | Outer Hebrides | |
Geographical location | 59 ° 7 '12 " N , 5 ° 49' 12" W | |
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length | 2 km | |
width | 1.5 km | |
surface | 1.09 km² | |
Highest elevation | Tobha Rònaigh 108 m |
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Residents | uninhabited | |
Map and drawing from 1889 |
Rona ( Scottish Gaelic : Rònaigh; formerly also Ronay , also North Rona ) is an island in the Outer Hebrides in Scotland . It bears the addition North to distinguish it from South Rona , which belongs to the Inner Hebrides . Of all the British Isles, Rona is the most remote island that has been permanently inhabited.
geography
Rona is about 70 kilometers northeast of the northern tip of the main island of Lewis . The only nearby island is Sula Sgeir , 16 kilometers west of Rona. From the Faroe Islands , Rona is the closest area.
The island is 1.1 km² in size. The highest point is the Tobha Rònaigh with 108 meters.
history
St. Ronan is said to have lived on Rona in the 8th century. The St. Ronans Chapel on the island is still in ruins. The island was permanently inhabited by around 30 people until rats came to the island by a shipwreck in 1685, which destroyed the residents' food supplies. As a result, the island population starved to death. In the following years, Rona was settled again, abandoned again in 1695 after a shipwreck. Until 1844 individual shepherds lived with their families on the island. By selling the island they had to leave Rona. The new owner offered the island to the government as a convict colony , but this was rejected. Since then it has been used as grazing land by Lewis sheep farmers.
Rona was, together with Sula Sgeir, a nature reserve and belonged to the Scottish Natural Heritage Society . The protection status was revoked on May 18, 2018. Rona has important gray seal and sea bird colonies .
building
In addition to the St. Ronan's Chapel and numerous other ruins, there is a remote-controlled lighthouse on Rona . He stands on the Tobha Rònaigh .
traffic
There is no regular boat service to Rona. Visitors must charter a ship on Lewis.
Web links
- North Rona as a nature reserve (English)
- Description of a visit to Rona (English)
- Photos from North Rona
Individual evidence
- ↑ Repeal with certificate tellmescotland.gov.uk (English), accessed on May 16, 2019