Lunga, Treshnish Isles

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Lunga
Location
Lunga
Lunga shown within Argyll and Bute
OS grid reference NM278419
Names
Gaelic name Lungaigh
Norse name langr-øy
Meaning of name "(long)ship island", from Norse
Area and summit
Area 81 hectares (0.31 sq mi)
Area rank 161[1]
Highest elevation Cruachan 103 m (338 ft)
Population
Population 0
Groupings
Island group Treshnish Isles
Local Authority Argyll and Bute
References [2][3][4][5][6]

The island of Lunga is the largest of the Treshnish Isles in Argyll and Bute, Scotland.

History

Of volcanic origin, Lunga has been described as 'a green jewel in a peacock sea'.[3] Populated until the 19th century Lunga still bears the remains of blackhouses. To the northeast of the island lie the remains of the ruined village, which was abandoned in 1857.[7]

Wildlife

Puffins on Lunga.

Lunga is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of its abundant plant life. Many rare and endangered plants are native to the island. Plants include primrose, birdsfoot trefoil, orchids, sea campion, sea thrift, sea pinks, yellow flags, tormentil and the oyster plant.[3] Grey seals inhabit the waters surrounding the island, while birdlife includes storm-petrels, kittiwakes and Manx Shearwaters. Guillemot, puffin and razorbills breed on Lunga and on the Harp Rock, a sea stack separated by a narrow gut. Barnacle geese appear each winter.[3]

In summer, tourist boats visit Lunga from Ulva Ferry. The main attraction is the many thousands of breeding puffins which allow visitors to approach to within a few feet of them.

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Area and population ranks: there are c. 300 islands >20ha in extent and 93 permanently inhabited islands were listed in the 2011 census.
  2. ↑ 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7. 
  4. ↑ Ordnance Survey
  5. ↑ Iain Mac an Tailleir. "Placenames". Pàrlamaid na h-Alba. Retrieved 2007-07-28. 
  6. ↑ "Regions of Scotland and Gaelic Names". Retrieved 2007-08-01. 
  7. ↑ "Overview of Lunga". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 2007-07-28. 
Inhabited islands of the Hebrides
Inner Hebrides
Outer Hebrides

Coordinates: 56°29′27″N 6°25′18″W / 56.49083°N 6.42167°W / 56.49083; -6.42167

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