Ulva

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ulva
Basalt cliff on Ulva, near Dùn Bhioramuill
Basalt cliff on Ulva, near Dùn Bhioramuill
Waters Atlantic Ocean
Archipelago Inner Hebrides
Geographical location 56 ° 28 ′  N , 6 ° 12 ′  W Coordinates: 56 ° 28 ′  N , 6 ° 12 ′  W
Location of Ulva
length 12 km
width 4 km
surface 19.9 km²
Highest elevation Beinn Chreagach
313  m
Residents 6th
<1 inh / km²
main place (Ormaig)
Bridge from Ulva to the neighboring island of Gometra
Bridge from Ulva to the neighboring island of Gometra

The island of Ulva ( Scottish Gaelic Ulbha ? / I ) is located three kilometers west of Mull in the Atlantic Ocean off Scotland . It is around 12 km long, 4 km wide and almost 20 km² in size. It was formed about 60 million years ago by volcanic eruptions of Ben More , which today is the largest mountain on Mull with a height of 966 meters; this is how the islands of Staffa and Mull were formed. 60 million years ago the sea level sank dramatically, so that basalt layers criss-crossed by caves appeared. Where the poured out lava of the Ben More finally cooled, the sea was able to recapture the land, leaving behind rugged and eroded coastlines. Audio file / audio sample

The island is mostly treeless, the highest point is the 313 meter high Beinn Chreagach. The island is overgrown with carnations, orchids and sundew in many places.

The island is said to have got its name from the Vikings who sent their scouts to the island. They turned back and said Ullamh dha (Nobody at home). Later Skots from Mull settled and drove out the Vikings. In the years that followed, the islanders lived peacefully from the sale of seaweed as field fertilizer. In 1722, the residents of Ulva were brought to trial in Inveraray for having appropriated the precious oil from a stranded whale.

In 1770 the island was populated by 600 people, in 1780 only 100. The missing 500, and the 30 inhabitants of the neighboring mini-island Gometra , were driven out by the highland clearances of large landowners in 1786. In 2011 there were still 11 people living on the island. The students must be taken to the school in Mull by boat. In 2018 the population fell to 6.

The majority of the inhabitants live from oyster and sheep farming. The fishing also plays a major role. Tourism has hardly found its way onto the island so far, which may also be due to the fact that there are no overnight accommodations on the island. The population lives in the towns of Ormaig Tin-at-Shainn (old Ormaig) and Cragaìg.

The residents speak Scottish Gaelic on a daily basis and all signs are written in Scottish.

In addition to the beautiful landscape, several barrows and menhirs , two old Celtic cemeteries, numerous traces of the clearances and some caves are worth seeing . When the water is low , you can also walk to the neighboring island of Gometra, where you can still find the remains of settlements and the remains of a fortress.

In March 2018, the population made an offer for more than £ 4.4 million to buy the island. On June 21, 2018, the private property of the Howard family, which they have owned since 1947, became an island in communal ownership. The population now wants to market their island cautiously, especially for gentle, natural tourism. It is also hoped to be able to attract new residents to the island.

The pair of stones from Cragaig (also Ulva 1) stands near the south coast.

Web links

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

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Formation of basalt columns / pseudocrystals ( Memento of the original of April 30, 2007 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. giantcrystals.strahl.org (English) @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / giantcrystals.strahl.org
  2. ↑ OS ( Memento of the original from November 12, 2008 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Landranger Sheet 48, Iona & West Mull, Ulva @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk
  3. ↑ Donald W. MacKenzie: As it was. To Ulva Boyhood. = Sin mar a bha. Birlinn, Edinburgh 2000, ISBN 1-84158-042-2 .
  4. ↑ 2011 census data
  5. ↑ Fancy living here? People on Ulva hope to attract new neighbors to their remote Scottish island . In: iNews . April 11, 2018 ( inews.co.uk [accessed June 26, 2018]).
  6. ^ Severin Carrell: Mull campaigners secure public funds to buy isle of Ulva. March 19, 2018, accessed June 26, 2018 .
  7. ^ Howard Family Statement - Isle of Ulva. Retrieved June 26, 2018 (UK English).
  8. ↑ [1] Cragaig