Western Isles
Island administrative unitary authority area in Scotland, also known
as the Outer Hebrides, including the major islands of Lewis, Harris,
North and South Uist, Benbecula, and Barra
Area:
3,057 sq km/1,180 sq mi Towns: Stornoway on Lewis (administrative headquarters),
Castlebay, Lochboisdale, Lochmaddy, Tarbert
Physical:
Ppen to the Atlantic Ocean on the west and the stormy Minch to the
east, the islands are now almost treeless and mainly covered by
extensive peat bogs. Areas of hills and mountains are found on
all the islands. The only fertile land is the sandy Machair on
the west coast. The islands are almost entirely composed of the
oldest rock in Britain, the Lewisian gneiss. Lewis is divided
from the mainland by the Minch channel. The islands south of Lewis
are divided from the Inner Hebrides by the Little Minch and the
Sea of the Hebrides; uninhabited islands include St Kilda, Rockall.
Harris and Lewis are often assumed to be two islands, but they
are linked by a narrow neck of land.
Features:
Callanish monolithic Stone Age circles on Lewis
Industries:
Harris tweed, tourism Agriculture: sheep, cattle, fishing
Population:
(1995) 29,000.
History
A long history of settlement has left Stone, Bronze, and Iron Age remains,
including those at Callanish. From the 8th to 13th centuries the
area remained subject to the Scandinavians; sites with remains
are rare but language, customs, and place names are strongly related
to this period. Associations with strong clans such as Macdonald,
MacNeil, and MacLeod, the escape of Bonnie Prince Charlie (Prince
Charles Edward Stuart), the formation of large estates and the
`clearances´ are all integral parts of the history of this area.
Economy
The main occupations of farming, weaving, and fishing are related to
the crofting form of land holding and settlement. The larger settlements
are all ports on the indented east side of all the main islands.
Apart from the Harris tweed mills, there is little industry. Tourism
is increasingly important. There are good air and sea connections
from the larger islands.
Environment
There are 53 Sites of Special Scientific Interest, four National Nature
Reserves, two Ramsars (wetland sites), seven Special Protection
Areas, two Biosphere Reserves, one World Heritage Site, and three
National Scenic Areas.
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