Eileanan Iasgaich

Infobox Scottish island


GridReference=NF789184
latitude=57.14
longitude=-7.31
celtic name= Eileanan Iasgaich Mòr
norse name=
meaning of name= fishing island
area=50 ha
area rank= 192=
highest elevation= 20 m
Population=0
population rank=
main settlement=
island group= Uists & Barra
local authority=Na h-Eileanan Siar
references= [2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland] Haswell-Smith] [ [http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/ Ordnance Survey] ]

Na h-Eileanan Iasgaich comprise a small uninhabited archipelago in Loch Boisdale, in the south east of the island of South Uist, in the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. The individual islands are separated from one another at high tide, but connected to one another at low tide, (although not to their much larger neighbour of South Uist). They are around 50 ha in extent and over 20m at their highest point. Their boundaries are ill defined.

Geography and geology

The islands have a thin soil and a Lewisian gneiss bedrock.

Their name means "fishing islands" in Scottish Gaelic, due to the fact that they increase greatly in size at low tide, creating a number of fish traps and homes for edible crustaceans.

There are five main islands in the group -
* Eileanan Iasgaich Mòr - Great fishing island
* Eileanan Iasgaich Meadhonach - Middling fishing island
* Eileanan Iasgaich Beag - Little fishing island
* Eilean nam Feannag
* Eilean Bàgh Mhic Rois.

Footnotes