Editing Outer Hebrides (section)

== Geography ==
[[File:Outer Hebrides by Sentinel-2.jpg|thumb|upright|Satellite image of Outer Hebrides]]
[[File:South Uist.jpg|thumb|Nicolson's Leap on the east coast of [[South Uist]]. In the background are Beinn Mhòr at left, and Hecla on the right.]]
{{main|List of Outer Hebrides}}

The islands form an archipelago whose major islands are [[Lewis and Harris]], [[North Uist]], [[Benbecula]], [[South Uist]], and [[Barra]]. Lewis and Harris has an area of {{convert|2178.98|sqkm|sqmi|0}}<ref>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 262</ref> and is the largest island in Scotland and the third-largest in the [[British Isles]], after Great Britain and Ireland.<ref>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 502</ref><ref>[https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-largest-islands-in-the-british-isles-by-size.html “The Largest Islands In The British Isles By Size”]. WorldAtlas. Retrieved 24 July 2024.</ref> It incorporates [[Isle of Lewis|Lewis]] in the north and [[Harris, Outer Hebrides|Harris]] in the south, both of which are frequently referred to as individual islands, although they are connected by land. The island does not have a single name in either English or Gaelic, and is referred to as "Lewis and Harris", "Lewis with Harris", "Harris with Lewis" etc.<ref name="Thompson 1968 p. 13">Thompson (1968) p. 13</ref>

The largest islands are deeply indented by arms of the sea such as [[Loch Ròg]], [[Loch Seaforth]] and [[Lochmaddy|Loch nam Madadh]]. There are also more than 7,500 freshwater lochs in the Outer Hebrides, about 24% of the total for the whole of Scotland.<ref name =SNH>[http://www.snh.org.uk/publications/on-line/advisorynotes/4/4.htm "Botanical survey of Scottish freshwater lochs"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303211946/http://www.snh.org.uk/publications/on-line/advisorynotes/4/4.htm |date=3 March 2016 }} SNH Information and Advisory Note Number 4. Retrieved 1 January 2010.</ref> North and South Uist and Lewis, in particular, have landscapes with a high percentage of fresh water and a maze and complexity of loch shapes. Harris has fewer large bodies of water but has innumerable small lochans. [[Loch Langavat]] on Lewis is {{convert|11|km|mi|0}} long, and has several large islands in its midst, including [[Eilean Mòr, Loch Langavat|Eilean Mòr]]. Although Loch Suaineabhal has only 25% of Loch Langavat's surface area, it has a mean depth of {{convert|33|m|ft|0}} and is the most voluminous on the island.<ref>Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of Lewis" Volume II, Part II [https://maps.nls.uk/bathymetric/text/page/1494 p.&nbsp;216]. Retrieved 21 December 2009.</ref> Of [[Loch Sgadabhagh]] on [[North Uist]] it has been said that "there is probably no other loch in Britain which approaches Loch Scadavay in irregularity and complexity of outline."<ref>Murray and Pullar (1910) "Lochs of North Uist" Volume II, Part II [https://maps.nls.uk/bathymetric/text/page/1466 p.&nbsp;188]. Retrieved 20 December 2009.</ref> Loch Bì is South Uist's largest loch and at {{convert |8|km|mi|0}} long it all but cuts the island in two.<ref name=OS/>

Much of the western coastline of the islands is [[Machair (geography)|machair]], a fertile low-lying dune pastureland.<ref>Murray (1966) pp. 171, 198</ref> Lewis is comparatively flat, and largely consists of treeless moors of blanket [[peat]]. The highest eminence is Mealisval at {{convert|574|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} in the south west. Most of [[Harris, Outer Hebrides|Harris]] is mountainous, with large areas of exposed rock and [[Clisham]], the archipelago's only [[Corbett Top|Corbett]], reaches {{convert|799|m|ft|abbr=on}} in height.<ref name=Thom14/><ref name="Haswell-Smith 2004 p. 289">Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 289</ref> North and South Uist and Benbecula (sometimes collectively referred to as [[The Uists]]) have sandy beaches and wide cultivated areas of machair to the west and virtually uninhabited mountainous areas to the east. The highest peak here is [[Beinn Mhòr (South Uist)|Beinn Mhòr]] at {{convert|620|m|ft|0|}}.<ref>Haswell-Smith (2004) pp.&nbsp;236–45</ref> The Uists and their immediate outliers have a combined area of {{convert|745.4|sqkm|sqmi|0}}. This includes the Uists themselves and the islands linked to them by causeways and bridges.<ref>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 206</ref> Barra is {{convert|58.75|sqkm|sqmi|0}} in extent and has a rugged interior, surrounded by machair and extensive beaches.<ref>Rotary Club (1995) p. 106</ref><ref>Haswell-Smith (2004) pp.&nbsp;218–22</ref>

The scenic qualities of the islands are reflected in the fact that three of Scotland's forty [[national scenic area (Scotland)|national scenic areas]] (NSAs) are located here. The national scenic areas are defined so as to identify areas of exceptional scenery and to ensure its protection from inappropriate development,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nature.scot/professional-advice/safeguarding-protected-areas-and-species/protected-areas/national-designations/national-scenic-areas/|title=National Scenic Areas|publisher=Scottish Natural Heritage|access-date=2018-01-17}}</ref> and are considered to represent the type of scenic beauty "popularly associated with Scotland and for which it is renowned".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Environment/Countryside/Heritage/Areas|title=Countryside and Landscape in Scotland - National Scenic Areas|publisher=Scottish Government|date=2017-07-04|access-date=2018-01-31|archive-date=31 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180131201226/http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Environment/Countryside/Heritage/Areas|url-status=dead}}</ref> The three NSA within the Outer Hebrides are:

*[[South Lewis, Harris and North Uist National Scenic Area]] covers the mountainous south west of [[Isle of Lewis|Lewis]], all of [[Harris, Outer Hebrides|Harris]], the [[Sound of Harris]] and the northern part of [[North Uist]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/scotlandsscenicareas/Part2WesternIsles2.pdf| title=South Lewis, Harris and North Uist NSA| publisher=[[Scottish Natural Heritage|SNH]]| access-date=2009-08-30| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214164446/http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/scotlandsscenicareas/Part2WesternIsles2.pdf| archive-date=14 February 2012| url-status=dead}}</ref>
*An area of the south west coast of [[South Uist]] is designated as the ''South Uist Machair National Scenic Area''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gov.scot/Resource/Doc/921/0109905.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.gov.scot/Resource/Doc/921/0109905.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|title=South Uist Machair NSA 1:50,000 map|publisher=Scottish Natural Heritage|date=2010-12-20|access-date=2018-06-07}}</ref>
*The archipelago of [[St Kilda, Scotland|St Kilda]] is also listed as an NSA, alongside many other conservation designations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://gateway.snh.gov.uk/sitelink/searchmap.jsp|title=Sitelink Map Search|publisher=Scottish Natural Heritage|access-date=2018-06-11}}</ref>

=== Flora and fauna ===
{{Main|Flora and fauna of the Outer Hebrides}}
[[File:Benbecula Ruabhal View.jpg|thumb|left|The open landscapes of [[Benbecula]]]]
[[File:Baghmor.jpg|thumb|{{lang|gd|Bàgh Mòr}}, [[Grimsay]]]]
Much of the archipelago is a protected habitat, including both the islands and the surrounding waters. There are 53 [[Sites of Special Scientific Interest]] of which the largest are Loch an Duin, North Uist ({{convert |151|sqkm|acre}}) and North Harris ({{convert |127|sqkm|acre}}).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/cxdir/strategiespolicies/witps/appendix1.asp |title=Western Isles Transitional Programme Strategy |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629195106/http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/cxdir/strategiespolicies/witps/appendix1.asp |archive-date=29 June 2011 |website=Comhairle nan Eilean Siar |access-date=19 May 2010}}</ref><ref>Rotary Club (1995) p. 10</ref> [[South Uist]] is considered the best place in the UK for the aquatic plant [[Najas flexilis|Slender Naiad]], which is a [[European Protected Species]].<ref>[http://www.jncc.gov.uk/protectedsites/SACselection/species.asp?FeatureIntCode=S1833 "Higher plant species: 1833 Slender naiad"] JNCC. Retrieved 29 July 2007.</ref><ref>[http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1994/Uksi_19942716_en_10.htm "Statutory Instrument 1994 No. 2716 "] Office of Public Sector Information.  Retrieved 5 July 2010.</ref>

There has been considerable controversy over [[European hedgehog|hedgehog]]s on the Uists. Hedgehogs are not native to the islands but were introduced in the 1970s to reduce garden pests. Their spread posed a threat to the eggs of ground-nesting wading birds. In 2003 Scottish Natural Heritage undertook culls of hedgehogs in the area, but these were halted in 2007; trapped animals are now relocated to the mainland.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thehedgehog.co.uk/campaign.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020808001943/http://www.thehedgehog.co.uk/campaign.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 August 2002 |title=Campaign to stop the slaughter of over 5000 Hedgehogs on the Island of Uist |publisher=Epping Forest Hedgehog Rescue |access-date=1 January 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last = Ross | first = John | date = 21 February 2007 | title = Hedgehogs saved from the syringe as controversial Uist cull called off | location = Edinburgh | work=[[The Scotsman]]}}</ref>

Nationally important populations of breeding waders are present in the Outer Hebrides, including [[common redshank]], [[dunlin]], [[Northern lapwing|lapwing]] and [[ringed plover]]. The islands also provide a habitat for other important species such as [[Corn crake|corncrake]], [[hen harrier]], [[golden eagle]] and [[European otter|otter]]. Offshore, [[basking shark]] and various species of whale and dolphin can often be seen,<ref>[http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/biodiversity/planningprocess.asp#biodiversity "Western Isles Biodiversity: Biodiversity Audit - Main report"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029050723/http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/biodiversity/planningprocess.asp#biodiversity |date=29 October 2009 }} Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Retrieved 5 July 2010.</ref> and the remoter islands' seabird populations are of international significance. [[St Kilda, Scotland|St Kilda]] has 60,000&nbsp;[[northern gannet]]s, amounting to 24% of the world population; 49,000&nbsp;breeding pairs of [[Leach's storm-petrel|Leach's petrel]], up to 90% of the European population; and 136,000&nbsp;pairs of [[Atlantic puffin|puffin]] and 67,000&nbsp;[[northern fulmar]] pairs, about 30% and 13% of the respective UK totals.<ref>Benvie (2004) pp. 116, 121, 132&ndash;34</ref> [[Mingulay]] is an important breeding ground for [[razorbill]]s, with 9,514&nbsp;pairs, 6.3% of the European population.<ref name=NTSbirds>{{cite web |url=http://www.nts-seabirds.org.uk/properties/mingulay/mingulay_breeding.aspx/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060622052146/http://nts-seabirds.org.uk/properties/mingulay/mingulay_breeding.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 June 2006 |title=Mingulay birds |publisher=National Trust for Scotland |access-date=16 February 2007 }}</ref>

The [[bumblebee]] [[Bombus jonellus|''Bombus jonellus'' var. ''hebridensis'']] is [[endemism|endemic]] to the Hebrides and there are local variants of the [[dark green fritillary]] and [[green-veined white]] butterflies.<ref>Thompson (1968) p. 21</ref>  The [[St Kilda wren]] is a subspecies of [[Eurasian wren|wren]] whose range is confined to the islands whose name it bears.<ref>Maclean (1972) p. 21</ref>