9 August 2014

Far out in the ocean sea (trip to St Kilda)


The archipelago of St Kilda lies 41 miles off the Outer Hebrides,
                                                                                                      taking 3 hours to get to.






Volcanic rock - granite
                          gabbro 
                          and dolerite erupts from the Atlantic ocean, creating the islands of 
                                                                                             
                                                                                                       Soay, Hirte, Boreray and Dun. 

The stacs resemble tower blocks - Canary 
                                                      Wharf far out in the ocean sea.










                                                                                              St Kilda 
 the highest cliff in the British Isles at 376 metres
                the highest sea stac - Stac an Armin at 191 metres
                               the world's largest colony of gannets - 60 000 pairs
                                                 Britain's largest and oldest colony of fulmars - 68 000 pairs
                                                              field mice grow twice as big as mainland mice
                                                                          wrens are bigger than their mainland relative
                                                                                  a flock of primitive sheep found nowhere else in             
                                                                                          the world - Soay sheep run wild but are  
                                                                                                  overseen by the St Kilda Soay Sheep    
                                                                                                         Project.


For thousands of years people lived on Hirte.
The last remaining 36 islanders were            evacuated        in 1930. 


                                        Their unique life no longer sustainable


In 1957 the islands were given to the National Trust. 
Since 1957 the Ministry of Defence has been present on the island. A radar tracking station was built and they provide power, water, transport and medical aid on the island.









The islands have the following designations - Scottish Natural Heritage, Natural Scenic Area, Site of Special Scientific Interest, Special Protection Area, World Heritage Site, Geological Review Site and Marine Consultation Area. 

Managed, controlled, protected, human.                     



                                                                                                  On the edge, natural and wild.