South Rona
| Gaelic name |  Rònaigh |
|---|---|
| Norse name | Hraun eyer |
| Meaning of name | Norse for "rough islands" |
| Location | |
 South Rona
South Rona shown within Scotland
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| OS grid reference | NG619563 |
| Coordinates | 57°32′24″N 5°58′41″W / 57.54°N 5.978°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Skye |
| Area | 930 hectares (3.6 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 52 |
| Highest elevation | Meall na h-Acarsaid 125 metres (410 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | Scotland |
| Council area | Highland |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 3 |
| Population rank | 80= |
| Population density | 0.3 people/km2 |
| Largest settlement | An Acarsaid Mhòr |
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| References | |
South Rona Lighthouse
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| Location | South Rona Isle Skye Inner Hebrides Scotland United Kingdom |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 57°34′41″N 5°57′33″W / 57.578135°N 5.959046°W |
| Year first constructed | 1857 |
| Automated | 1975 |
| Construction | masonry tower |
| Tower shape | cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings / pattern | white tower, black lantern, ochre trim |
| Height | 13 metres (43 ft) |
| Focal height | 69 metres (226 ft) |
| Range | 19 nautical miles (35 km; 22 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl W 12s. |
| Admiralty number | A3904 |
| NGA number | 3660 |
| ARLHS number | SCO-185 |
| Managing agent | Northern Lighthouse Board |
Rona (Scottish Gaelic: Rònaigh, pronounced [ˈrˠɔːnaj]), sometimes called South Rona to distinguish it from North Rona, is a small island in the Scottish Inner Hebrides. It lies between the Sound of Raasay and the Inner Sound just north of the neighbouring island of Raasay and east of the Trotternish peninsula of Skye. It has a total area of 930 hectares (3.6 sq mi).
Rona is an extension northward of the ridge of Raasay. Its geology is Lewisian gneiss and the glaciated landscape is underlain by some of the oldest rocks in western Europe.
Writing in the early 18th century Martin Martin recorded that "this little isle is the most unequal rocky piece of ground to be seen anywhere: there is but very few acres fit for digging, the whole is covered with long heath, erica-baccifera, mertillus, and some mixture of grass; it is reckoned very fruitful in pasturage: most of the rocks consist of the hectic stone, and a considerable part of them is of a red colour."
On the west side of the island is a secure and picturesque natural anchorage, An Acarsaid Mhór, protected by An t-Eilean Garbh. The writer Malcolm Slesser described it as "a delightful little fjord, and superb harbour for small boats. Pink felspar cliffs drop steeply into the water, and small lush woodland lends a touch of luxury."
Other islets surrounding Rona include Na Gaimhnichean, Eilean na Seamraig, Garbh Eilean, Sgeirean Buidhe Borlum, and A' Sgeir Shuas. Eilean Tighe lies about 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) away across the straits of An Caol Ronaigh at the centre of which is tiny Fraoich Eilean. The east coast is largely unindented and in addition to Acairseid Mhór the main bays are An Dubh-Chamus (black bay), An Acaarsaid Thioram (dry harbour) and Loch a' Bhràigheig on the west coast. There are several smaller bays in the north west including Port an Fhearainn, (port of the land), Òb nam Feusgan (bay of the mussel), Port na Bà Brice (port of the speckled cow) and Òb an Deallaire (bay of the loiterer). The highest point on the island is Meall na h-Acarseid, which reaches 125 metres (410 ft). Sgàth a' Bhannaich and Beinn na h-Iolaire (hill of the eagle) are further north and are over 100 metres (330 ft) high.
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Wikipedia