Eileanan Iasgaich

Summary

Na h-Eileanan Iasgaich comprise a small uninhabited archipelago in Loch Boisdale, in the south east of the island of South Uist, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. The individual islands are separated from one another at high tide, but connected to one another at low tide, (although not to their much larger neighbour of South Uist). They are around 50 ha in extent and over 20m at their highest point. Their boundaries are ill-defined.[3]

Eileanan Iasgaich
Scottish Gaelic nameEileanan Iasgaich Mòr
Meaning of namefishing island
Location
Eileanan Iasgaich is located in Outer Hebrides
Eileanan Iasgaich
Eileanan Iasgaich
Eileanan Iasgaich shown within the Outer Hebrides
OS grid referenceNF789184
Coordinates57°08′N 7°19′W / 57.14°N 7.31°W / 57.14; -7.31
Physical geography
Island groupUists & Barra
Area50 ha
Area rank199= [1]
Highest elevation20 m
Administration
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
CountryScotland
Council areaNa h-Eileanan Siar
Demographics
Population0[2]
Lymphad
References>[3][4]

Geography and geology edit

The islands have a thin soil and a Lewisian gneiss bedrock.[3]

Their name means "fishing islands" in Scottish Gaelic because they increase greatly in size at low tide, creating a number of fish traps and homes for edible crustaceans.[3]

There are five main islands in the group -

  • Eilean Iasgaich Mòr — Great fishing island
  • Eilean Iasgaich Meadhonach — Middling fishing island
  • Eilean Iasgaich Beag — Little fishing island
  • Eilean nam Feannag
  • Eilean Bàgh Mhic Rois.

Notes and references edit

  1. ^ Area and population ranks: there are c. 300 islands over 20 ha in extent and 93 permanently inhabited islands were listed in the 2011 census.
  2. ^ National Records of Scotland (15 August 2013). "Appendix 2: Population and households on Scotland's Inhabited Islands" (PDF). Statistical Bulletin: 2011 Census: First Results on Population and Household Estimates for Scotland Release 1C (Part Two) (PDF) (Report). SG/2013/126. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7.
  4. ^ Ordnance Survey. OS Maps Online (Map). 1:25,000. Leisure.

57°08′38″N 7°18′39″W / 57.14381°N 7.31088°W / 57.14381; -7.31088