Editing Iona (section)

== Geography ==
[[File:TyIonaBayAtTheBackOfTheOcean20030825r19f19.jpg|thumb|The [[Bay at the Back of the Ocean]]]]
[[File:Modern Hy (Iona) by John Bartholomy 1874.jpg|upright=1.0|thumb|Map of 1874, with subdivisions:<br/>*Ceann Tsear *Sliabh Meanach *Machar *Sliginach *Sliabh Siar *Staonaig]]

Iona lies about {{convert|2|km|mi|0|abbr=off}} from the coast of [[Isle of Mull|Mull]]. It is about {{cvt|2|km|mi|0}} wide and {{cvt|6|km|mi|0}} long with a resident population of 125.<ref name=census>{{cite web |url=http://www.scrol.gov.uk/ |title=Scotland Census 2001 – analyser |access-date=22 October 2006 |archive-date=4 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704124556/http://www.scrol.gov.uk/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> Like other places swept by ocean breezes, there are few trees; most of them are near the parish church.

Iona's highest point is Dùn Ì, {{cvt|101|m|ft}}, an Iron Age hill fort dating from 100 BC – A.D. 200. Iona's geographical features include the [[Bay at the Back of the Ocean]] and ''Càrn Cùl ri Éirinn'' (the Hill/[[Cairn]] of [turning the] Back to Ireland), said to be adjacent to the beach where St. Columba first landed.

The main settlement, located at St. Ronan's Bay on the eastern side of the island, is called ''Baile Mòr'' and is also known locally as "The Village". The primary school, post office, the island's two hotels, the [[Bishop's House Iona|Bishop's House]] and the ruins of the [[Iona Nunnery|Nunnery]] are here. The Abbey and MacLeod Centre are a short walk to the north.<ref name=OS/><ref>Murray (1966) pp. 82-83.</ref> Port Bàn (white port) beach on the west side of the island is home to the Iona Beach Party.<ref>[http://www.ionabeachparty.co.uk/ "It's Been Emotional"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429013536/http://www.ionabeachparty.co.uk/ |date=29 April 2012}} ionabeachparty.co.uk. Retrieved 8 July 2009.</ref>

There are numerous offshore islets and [[Skerry|skerries]]: Eilean Annraidh (island of storm) and Eilean Chalbha (calf island) to the north, Rèidh Eilean and Stac MhicMhurchaidh to the west and Eilean Mùsimul (mouse holm island) and Soa Island to the south are amongst the largest.<ref name=OS/> The steamer ''Cathcart Park'' carrying a cargo of salt from [[Runcorn]] to [[Wick, Highland|Wick]] ran aground on Soa on 15 April 1912, the crew of 11 escaping in two boats.<ref>[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/118303/details/cathcart+park+soa+island+passage+of+tiree/ "Cathcart Park: Soa Island, Passage Of Tiree"] RCAHMS. Retrieved 13 July 2009.</ref><ref group="fn">The record is tentative, the press cutting the record refers to identifying "'Sheep Island', one of the [[Torran Rocks]] near Iona" but there is no other obvious contender.</ref>

=== Subdivision ===
On a map of 1874, the following territorial subdivision is indicated (from north to south):<ref>[[:File:Modern Hy (Iona) by John Bartholomy 1874.jpg|John Bartholomew: Modern Hy]] (1874)</ref>
* Ceann Tsear (East Head);
* Sliabh Meanach (Middle Mountain);
* Machar (Low-lying Grassy Plain);
* Sliginach (Shelly Area);
* Sliabh Siar (Rear Mountain);
* Staonaig (Sloping Ground).