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Western Isles (Na h-Eileanan Siar) also known as the Outer Hebrides, including the major islands of Lewis-with-Harris, North and South Uist, Benbecula, and Barra, it has an area of 180 square miles (3,057 sq. Km.) and a population of around 26,000. Almost 68% of the population speak the Gaelic language. The population is in decline due to an approximately equal combination of a decline in natural change (more deaths than births) and also net migration.

Geography

The windswept Western Isles or Outer Hebrides comprise the 'long island' of Lewis and Harris and islands to the south including North Uist, South Uist and Barra. Open to the Atlantic Ocean on the west and the stormy Minch to the east, the islands are almost treeless and have extensive peat bogs that are still used as a major source of fuel for the winter fire. There are areas of hills and mountains on all the islands. The only fertile land is the sandy Machair on the west coast. The islands are mainly composed of the oldest rock in Britain, the Lewisian gneiss. Lewis is divided from the mainland by the Minch channel. The islands south of Lewis are divided from the Inner Hebrides by the Little Minch and the Sea of the Hebrides. Harris and Lewis are often assumed to be two islands, but are linked by a narrow neck of land.

Industry

Nearly half the islands' households live on croft land and farming, fishing, fish farming and the manufacture of Harris Tweed are the chief economic activities.

History

The Islands are rich in Archaeology and History as can be seen in an array of archaeological sites including, brochs, cairns, duns and stone circles. The most famous of these sites being the Standing Stones at Calanais (Callanish), which pre-date Stonehenge. The influence of Norse invaders and settlers is still evident in many names, which are Scandinavian in origin. The Islands eventually became part of Scotland in the mid 13th century but the word Hebrides is thought to have originated from the Norse word 'Havbredey', meaning 'Isles on the edge of the sea'.

The islands has been strongly shaped by the clan system. To this day, original clan surnames such as MacNeil, MacDonald, MacLeod, MacAulay and Maclver are common in the Western Isles and to a large extent many have retained their ancient geographical distribution. Native islanders in the Western Isles have a strong cultural identity and life in the Western Isles relates directly to the physical environment and geography of the Islands, the crofting system and to the Gaelic language. The Gaelic culture in the Western Isles is more prominent than in any other part of Scotland. Gaelic is still the language of choice amongst many islanders and around 68% of islanders speak Gaelic, whilst 70% of the resident population have some knowledge of Gaelic (including reading, writing, speaking or a combination of the three). All signposts on the islands are written in both English and 'Gàidhlig' and much day-to-day business is carried out in the Gaelic language.