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==Outer Hebrides==

==Outer Hebrides==

The main islands of the Outer Hebrides are [[Lewis]] and [[Harris]], [[North Uist]], [[Benbecula]], [[South Uist]], and [[Barra]]. The archipelago of [[St Kilda]] and occasionally even the distant islet of [[Rockall]] are also sometimes included amongst the group.  

The main islands of the Outer Hebrides (Gaelic: ''Na h-Eileanan Siar'', "'''Western Isles'''") are [[Lewis]] and [[Harris]] (two parts of a single island), [[North Uist]], Benbecula, [[South Uist]], and Barra. The archipelago of [[St Kilda]] and occasionally even the distant islet of [[Rockall]] are also sometimes included amongst the group.  The two Uists and Benbecula are connected by bridges and causeways and are collectively known as 'the long island'. The administrative centre of the Western Isles is [[Stornoway]]. The islands, formerly divided between [[Invernessshire]] and [[Ross & Cromarty]], became a region of Scotland in 1975 and a county in 1996.

 

The islands are a stronghold of [[Gaelic]] language and culture, the last part of Scotland in which Scottish [[Gaelic]] is still widely spoken, and are among the most strongly religious areas in the [[United Kingdom]]. In Lewis, Harris and North Uist [[Protestantism]] is the predominant faith; in the other islands, [[Roman Catholicism]].

The largest town is [[Stornoway]] on Lewis.

The largest town is [[Stornoway]] on Lewis.

The Outer Hebrides are the last part of the Scotland in which Scottish [[Gaelic]] is still widely spoken.

The main village on Barra is [[Castlebay]], which is thought to be named after the bay by which it is situated, the [[castle]] in said bay or possibly even both.  Barra has [http://www.isleofbarra.com its own online news site].

 

Benbecula ([[Gaelic]]: ''Beinn na Faoghla'')lies between the islands of [[North Uist|North]] and [[South Uist]] and is connected to both of them by causeway; the three conjoined islands are colloquially known as 'the Long Island'. Benbecula has a small airport-cum-[[RAF]] base; as well as providing domestic air services this services the missile tracking base on Hirta, largest island in the [[St Kilda]] Group in the North [[Atlantic]].

 

The sole town on North Uist (''Uibhist A Tuath'') is Lochmaddy (''Loch Na Madadh''), from where ferries run to [[Uig]] on the [[Isle of Skye]].  The Sound of Pabbay and Sound of Harris separate it from Harris to the north.  The topography of North Uist is largely flat and boggy, with numerous small lakes; the hills North and South Lee, rising sharply from this terrain, help to make an arresting landscape.

[[Category:Scottish Islands]]

[[Category:Scottish Islands]]

[[Category:Archipelagos]]

[[Category:Archipelagos]]