Little Skellig
Native name: Sceilig Bheag | |
|---|---|
 Little Skellig | |
  Little Skellig Little Skellig (Ireland) | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Atlantic Ocean |
| Coordinates | 51°45′58″N 10°31′59″W / 51.766°N 10.533°W |
| Area | 8 ha (20 acres)[1] |
| Highest elevation | 134 m (440 ft)[2] |
| Administration | |
| County | Kerry |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
Little Skellig (Irish: Sceilig Bheag) is a small, steep rocky island in the Atlantic Ocean, 11 km off the Iveragh Peninsula of County Kerry, Ireland.[2] It is one of the two Skellig Islands, together with the larger Skellig Michael. Little Skellig is a nature reserve and bird colony. Landing on Little Skellig is not allowed.[2]
Geography
[edit]Little Skellig is the smaller of the two Skellig Islands, the other being Skellig Michael, 1 km to the south-west.[1] The islands rose c. 374–360 million years ago during a period of mountain formation, along with the MacGillycuddy's Reeks mountain range. Later, they were separated from the mainland by rising water levels.[3][4]
Wildlife
[edit]The island has a large bird population, including a colony of northern gannets which is the largest in Ireland,[1] and one of the largest in the world.[2] The island, together with Skellig Michael, is part of a 364 ha Important Bird Area established by BirdWatch Ireland in 2000.[1] BirdWatch Ireland has designated Little Skellig as a nature preserve. It houses over 35,000 breeding pairs of gannets.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "The Skelligs: Great Skellig and Little Skellig". BirdLife International. Archived from the original on 12 February 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Little Skellig, Co. Kerry". BirdWatch Ireland. 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
- ^ Bourke et al. 2011, p. 3.
- ^ Site Management Plan.
Sources
[edit]- Bourke, Edward; Hayden, Alan; Lynch, Ann; O'Sullivan, Michael (2011). Skellig Michael, Co. Kerry: The Monastery and South Peak: Archaeological Stratigraphic Report: Excavations 1986–2010 (PDF). Dublin: Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. OCLC 795846647.
- "Skellig Michael World Heritage Site Management Plan : 2008–2018". Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. 2008. OCLC 916003677.
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