Outer Hebrides

Outer Hebrides

Gaelic name	Na h-Eileanan Siar
Meaning of name	Western Isles
Location
Outer Hebrides Outer Hebrides shown within Scotland
OS grid reference	25
Coordinates	57°46′N 7°01′W / 57.76°N 7.02°W / 57.76; -7.02
Physical geography
Area	3,058 km2 (1,181 sq mi)[1]
Highest elevation	Clisham 799 m (2,621 ft)[2]
Administration
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Country	Scotland
Council area	Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Demographics
Population	26,900[3]
Population density	8 per km2
Largest settlement	Stornoway

The Outer Hebrides, often called the Western Isles,^[4] make up an island chain off the west coast of Scotland. It is also a parliamentary constituency. The northern island is Lewis and Harris. South of Lewis and Harris is a series of islands, such as South Uist, Benbecula and North Uist. The Outer Herides includes a number of even smaller islands.

The isles form part of the Hebrides, and are separated from the Scottish mainland and from the Inner Hebrides by the stormy waters of the Minch, the Little Minch and the Sea of the Hebrides.

Formerly the dominant language of the Islands, Scottish Gaelic remains spoken even though it has now been largely supplanted by English in some parts.

Sea transport is crucial and a variety of ferry services operate between the islands and to mainland Britain.

1. ↑ "Standard Area Measurements (2016) for Administrative Areas in the United Kingdom". Office for National Statistics. 1 February 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
2. ↑ Thompson (1968) p. 14
3. ↑ "Population Estimates for UK, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, Mid-2016". Office for National Statistics. 22 June 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
4. ↑ Although officially known by the Gaelic name, Na h-Eileanan Siar, this name is not understood in English.