Boreray, St Kilda
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| Boreray, St Kilda | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
  Boreray, St Kilda
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| Boreray, St Kilda shown within Scotland. | |
| OS grid reference: | NA153053 |
| Names | |
| Gaelic name: | Boraraigh |
| Meaning of name: | "Fort island", from Norse |
| Area and Summit | |
| Area: | 86 ha |
| Area rank (Scottish islands): | 153= |
| Highest elevation: | Mullach an Eilein 384 m |
| Population | |
| Population (2001): | 0 |
| Population rank (inhabited Scottish islands): | 0 out of 97 |
| Groupings | |
| Island Group: | St Kilda |
| Local Authority: | Na h-Eileanan Siar |
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| References: | [1][2][3][4] |
- Not to be confused with Boreray, North Uist
Boreray (Gaelic: Boraraigh) is an uninhabited island in the St Kilda archipelago in the North Atlantic.
| Mullach an Eilein | |
|---|---|
| Elevation | 384 metres (1,260 ft) |
| Location | St Kilda, Scotland |
| Prominence | 384 metres (1,260 ft) |
| Coordinates | |
| Topo map | OS Landranger 18 |
| OS grid reference | NA153053 |
| Listing | Marilyn |
| Translation | Top/upper part of the island (Scottish Gaelic) |
| Pronunciation | [Moolakh an yeilin] |
Contents |
[edit] Geography
Boreray lies about 66 km (41 mi) west-north-west of North Uist. It covers about 86.5 ha (214 acres), and reaches a height of 384 m (1,260 ft) at Mullach an Eilein.
Boreray is formed of a breccia of gabbro and dolerites.[5]
There are two sea stacks, vertical pillars of rock, just off Boreray. Stac An Armin, (¼ mi) to the north, is the taller at 196 metres (643 ft) high, while Stac Lee, 600 m (660 yards) to the west, is 172 metres (564 ft) high.
[edit] History
Macauley (1764) reports the existence of five druidic altars in the islands including a large circle of stones fixed perpendicularly in the ground, by the Stallir House on Boreray.[6]
The islands were bought in 1931 by the ornithologist, John Crichton-Stuart, 5th Marquess of Bute. In 1957, following his death, they were bequeathed to the National Trust for Scotland (NTS), the current owner.[5]
St Kilda was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1986 in recognition of its Natural Heritage; for its exceptional natural beauty and for the significant natural habitats that it supports. In July 2004 this was extended to include the surrounding marine environment. In July 2005 further recognition for the islands cultural heritage was awarded making it one of only a few places in the world with Dual World Heritage Status for both its natural and cultural significance.[7]
[edit] Wildlife
Boreray's cliffs are home for various seabirds. In 1959, 45,000 pairs of gannets were counted on the island and the two stacks. There are also over 130 different varieties of flowering plant on the island.[citation needed]
[edit] References
- ^ 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
- ^ Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 1-84195-454-3.
- ^ Ordnance Survey
- ^ Iain Mac an Tailleir. Placenames. Pàrlamaid na h-Alba. Retrieved on 2007-07-28.
- ^ a b World Heritage Sites Protected Areas Programme - St Kilda. United Nations Environment Programme. Retrieved on 2008-01-05.
- ^ Macauley, Rev Kenneth (1764) History of St Kilda. London
- ^ St Kilda. National Trust for Scotland. Retrieved on 2008-01-05.
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