- Ayre (landform)
An ayre is a body of water positioned very near to the ocean and divided from the sea by a narrow bar of land. The term is derived from an
Old Norse word used to depict a lake which is only separated by a narrow strip of low lying land from the sea itself. Examples of an ayre includeVasa Loch andLairo Water onShapinsay in theOrkney Islands . (Masters, 1840) These ayres have been suggested as food sources for Iron Age man on Shapinsay. (Hogan, 2007) Sometimes, the term ayre is used interchangeably for the sea beach or tombolo associated with the narrow strip of land. (Metcalfe, 1896) Ayres are most commonly associated with theNorthern Isles (Orkney Islands &Shetland Islands ) ofScotland . The only man-made ayre in the Orkneys is the Ayre of Cara onSouth Ronaldsay . (South Ronaldsay, 2007)ee also
*
Estuary
*Wetland References
* G.T.Masters, Orkney, Approaches to Kirkwall, HMS official survey map, 1840-1843
* [http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=7891 C. Michael Hogan, (7 Oct 2007) "Burroughston Broch", The Megalithic Portal, ed. Andy Burnham]
* William Musham Metcalfe and Ruaraidh Erskine eds. (1896) "The Scottish Review", J. H. Jackson, Original from the University of Michigan, v. 27 1896 Jan-Apr
* [http://www.buyorkney.com/information/orkney_guide_book/39_south_ronaldsay/ South Ronaldsay: Profile (2007)]
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