Monk (islands)

The archipelago consists of six more or less large islands and several islets and rocks. The largest islands, , and , are connected to each other by watts , that is, during low tide, you can move overland by land. According to some reports, until the sixteenth century, land could even be reached to the very distant islands of Balesher and North Uist . All islands of the Monk group are low (the maximum heights of the three largest islands are 19, 17 and 10 meters above sea level), sandy and highly prone to erosion. Most likely, several thousand years ago they were one large island, but since then they have been steadily destroyed and go under water. In addition to the three islands listed, in the archipelago can be distinguished Disker, and . About 160 days a year, a hurricane wind blows west of the islands, especially the westernmost island, Shillai ^[1] .

In past centuries, Monk islands were inhabited, up to 140 people lived there ^[2] . In 1810, the inhabitants left them due to overgrazing , but in 1839, due to the deportation of Scottish highlanders, they were again settled. From the beginning of the 1930s to 1948, the population of the islands was two people - lighthouse keepers, from 1948 to the present archipelago is again uninhabited.

From 1732 to 1734, was imprisoned for political reasons on the Monk Islands by . He himself declared her death and organized a funeral.

Shillai Island, the westernmost in the group, is interesting because it has two lighthouses at the same time. The engineering brothers and Stevenson erected a lighthouse here in 1864, in which two monks supported the light - hence the name of the archipelago ^[2] . In 1948, when the last resident left the island, the lighthouse was turned off. In 1997, a new lighthouse was built, but its luminosity was soon found to be too weak (the light was visible from 10 miles, and not from the required 18), so in 2008 it was turned off, and in return an old lighthouse with advanced optics, working again, worked. in fully automatic mode ^[3] .

By the 21st century, only the former school where fishermen find shelter has survived from all the buildings of the island ^[4] .

See also: ; .

In 1961, the Monk Islands were recognized as a Site of Special Scientific Importance . Since 1966, the islands and the surrounding water area (with a total area of ​​36.47 km²) have been a national reserve. Long- mouthed seals settle on the islands, their number can reach 10 thousand individuals, gray herons live in abandoned buildings. In total, 31 bird species nest on the islands, although there were about a hundred of them recorded ^[1] . There are no trees on the islands.

In 1994, the islands were recognized as a Special Protection Area , in 2005 - the Special Area of ​​Conservation .

• List of islands in Scotland

• Heiskeir or Monach Islands (unopened) (link not available) . Date of treatment January 30, 2014. Archived November 25, 2013. (English) on northuist.net
• Monk Islands on scotland.com
• Monk Islands on nnr-scotland.org.uk
• Monk Islands on canmore.rcahms.gov.uk