Soay, St Kilda
Encyclopedia
Soay is an uninhabited islet
in the St Kilda
archipelago
, Scotland
. The island is part of the St Kilda World Heritage Site
and home to a primitive breed of sheep. It is the westernmost point of land in Scotland, excluding the disputed Rockall
islet.
in the North Atlantic It is about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) north-west of Hirta
, from which it is separated by the narrow Sound of Soay. Two sea stacks
, Stac Shoaigh (Soay Stac 61 metres (200.1 ft)) and Stac Biorach
(73 metres (239.5 ft)) lie between. Soay covers about 96.8 hectares (239.2 acre) and reaches a height of 378 metres (1,240.2 ft), the cliffs rising sheer from the sea.
The island is formed of a breccia
of gabbro
and dolerites. It is formed as a single mountain peak rising from the sea-bed, without Ice-Age erosion.
With the rest of the archipelago, Soay is owned by the National Trust for Scotland
, managed by Scottish Natural Heritage
as a nature reserve and is included it the St Kilda World Heritage Site
. It is unlikely that this island ever had permanent habitation. Men from Hirta
would stay for a few days while gathering wool.
Soay sheep
are a relict
population of the first sheep brought to northern Europe around 5000BC. They were kept for their wool, which was plucked, not shorn, and made into tweed
. Only occasionally were the sheep killed for meat. When the neighbouring island of Hirta
became uninhabited, Soay sheep were introduced there too, and more recently they have become widely kept elsewhere as a livestock
animal. Another somewhat less primitive breed lives on another island in the group, the Boreray
.
The island's cliffs hold breeding colonies of many seabirds, including gannet
, fulmar
, storm petrel
, Manx Shearwater
, razorbill
, great skua
, Leach's Petrel
and puffin
.
Islet
An islet is a very small island.- Types :As suggested by its origin as islette, an Old French diminutive of "isle", use of the term implies small size, but little attention is given to drawing an upper limit on its applicability....
in the St Kilda
St Kilda, Scotland
St Kilda is an isolated archipelago west-northwest of North Uist in the North Atlantic Ocean. It contains the westernmost islands of the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The largest island is Hirta, whose sea cliffs are the highest in the United Kingdom and three other islands , were also used for...
archipelago
Archipelago
An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The island is part of the St Kilda World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
and home to a primitive breed of sheep. It is the westernmost point of land in Scotland, excluding the disputed Rockall
Rockall
Rockall is an extremely small, uninhabited, remote rocky islet in the North Atlantic Ocean. It gives its name to one of the sea areas named in the shipping forecast provided by the British Meteorological Office....
islet.
Geography
Soay lies some 40 miles (64.4 km) west-northwest of North UistNorth Uist
North Uist is an island and community in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.-Geography:North Uist is the tenth largest Scottish island and the thirteenth largest island surrounding Great Britain. It has an area of , slightly smaller than South Uist. North Uist is connected by causeways to Benbecula...
in the North Atlantic It is about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) north-west of Hirta
Hirta
Hirta is the largest island in the St Kilda archipelago, on the western edge of Scotland. The name "Hiort" and "Hirta" have also been applied to the entire archipelago.-Geography:...
, from which it is separated by the narrow Sound of Soay. Two sea stacks
Stack (geology)
A stack is a geological landform consisting of a steep and often vertical column or columns of rock in the sea near a coast, isolated by erosion. Stacks are formed through processes of coastal geomorphology, which are entirely natural. Time, wind and water are the only factors involved in the...
, Stac Shoaigh (Soay Stac 61 metres (200.1 ft)) and Stac Biorach
Stac Biorach
Stac Biorach is a sea stack, 73 metres tall, situated between Hirta and Soay in the St Kilda archipelago of Scotland...
(73 metres (239.5 ft)) lie between. Soay covers about 96.8 hectares (239.2 acre) and reaches a height of 378 metres (1,240.2 ft), the cliffs rising sheer from the sea.
The island is formed of a breccia
Breccia
Breccia is a rock composed of broken fragments of minerals or rock cemented together by a fine-grained matrix, that can be either similar to or different from the composition of the fragments....
of gabbro
Gabbro
Gabbro refers to a large group of dark, coarse-grained, intrusive mafic igneous rocks chemically equivalent to basalt. The rocks are plutonic, formed when molten magma is trapped beneath the Earth's surface and cools into a crystalline mass....
and dolerites. It is formed as a single mountain peak rising from the sea-bed, without Ice-Age erosion.
National Trust for Scotland
The National Trust for Scotland for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, commonly known as the National Trust for Scotland describes itself as the conservation charity that protects and promotes Scotland's natural and cultural heritage for present and future generations to...
, managed by Scottish Natural Heritage
Scottish Natural Heritage
Scottish Natural Heritage is a Scottish public body. It is responsible for Scotland's natural heritage, especially its natural, genetic and scenic diversity. It advises the Scottish Government and acts as a government agent in the delivery of conservation designations, i.e...
as a nature reserve and is included it the St Kilda World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
. It is unlikely that this island ever had permanent habitation. Men from Hirta
Hirta
Hirta is the largest island in the St Kilda archipelago, on the western edge of Scotland. The name "Hiort" and "Hirta" have also been applied to the entire archipelago.-Geography:...
would stay for a few days while gathering wool.
Wildlife
FeralFeral
A feral organism is one that has changed from being domesticated to being wild or untamed. In the case of plants it is a movement from cultivated to uncultivated or controlled to volunteer. The introduction of feral animals or plants to their non-native regions, like any introduced species, may...
Soay sheep
Soay sheep
The Soay sheep is a primitive breed of domestic sheep descended from a population of feral sheep on the island of Soay in the St. Kilda Archipelago, about from the Western Isles of Scotland...
are a relict
Relict
A relict is a surviving remnant of a natural phenomenon.* In biology a relict is an organism that at an earlier time was abundant in a large area but now occurs at only one or a few small areas....
population of the first sheep brought to northern Europe around 5000BC. They were kept for their wool, which was plucked, not shorn, and made into tweed
Tweed (cloth)
Tweed is a rough, unfinished woolen fabric, of a soft, open, flexible texture, resembling cheviot or homespun, but more closely woven. It is made in either plain or twill weave and may have a check or herringbone pattern...
. Only occasionally were the sheep killed for meat. When the neighbouring island of Hirta
Hirta
Hirta is the largest island in the St Kilda archipelago, on the western edge of Scotland. The name "Hiort" and "Hirta" have also been applied to the entire archipelago.-Geography:...
became uninhabited, Soay sheep were introduced there too, and more recently they have become widely kept elsewhere as a livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
animal. Another somewhat less primitive breed lives on another island in the group, the Boreray
Boreray (sheep)
The Boreray is a breed of sheep originating on the St Kilda archipelago off the west coast of Scotland and surviving as a feral animal on one of the islands, Boreray. It is primarily a meat breed...
.
The island's cliffs hold breeding colonies of many seabirds, including gannet
Northern Gannet
The Northern Gannet is a seabird and is the largest member of the gannet family, Sulidae.- Description :Young birds are dark brown in their first year, and gradually acquire more white in subsequent seasons until they reach maturity after five years.Adults are long, weigh and have a wingspan...
, fulmar
Northern Fulmar
The Northern Fulmar, Fulmarus glacialis, Fulmar, or Arctic Fulmar is a highly abundant sea bird found primarily in subarctic regions of the north Atlantic and north Pacific oceans. Fulmars come in one of two color morphs: a light one which is almost entirely white, and a dark one which is...
, storm petrel
European Storm-petrel
The European Storm Petrel or Storm Petrel is a small bird of the storm-petrel family, Hydrobatidae, part of the seabird order Procellariiformes. It is the only member of the genus Hydrobates.-Description:...
, Manx Shearwater
Manx Shearwater
The Manx Shearwater is a medium-sized shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae. The scientific name of this species records a name shift: Manx Shearwaters were called Manks Puffins in the 17th century. Puffin is an Anglo-Norman word for the cured carcasses of nestling shearwaters...
, razorbill
Razorbill
The Razorbill is colonial seabird that will only come to land in order to breed. It is the largest living member of the Auk family. This agile bird will choose only one partner for life and females will lay one egg per year. Razorbills will nest along coastal cliffs in enclosed or slightly exposed...
, great skua
Great Skua
The Great Skua, Stercorarius skua, is a large seabird in the skua family Stercorariidae. In Britain, it is sometimes known by the name Bonxie, a Shetland name of unknown origin.-Description:...
, Leach's Petrel
Leach's Storm-petrel
The Leach's Storm Petrel or Leach's Petrel is a small seabird of the tubenose family. It is named after the British zoologist William Elford Leach....
and puffin
Atlantic Puffin
The Atlantic Puffin is a seabird species in the auk family. It is a pelagic bird that feeds primarily by diving for fish, but also eats other sea creatures, such as squid and crustaceans. Its most obvious characteristic during the breeding season is its brightly coloured bill...
.
See also
- List of outlying islands of Scotland
- Lítla DímunLítla DímunLítla Dímun is a small island between the islands of Suðuroy and Stóra Dímun in the Faroe Islands. It is the smallest of the main 18 islands, being less than in area, and is the only uninhabited one...
, a similar island in the Faroes, formerly home to a similar breed of primitive sheep.