Gaelic name | Hiort |
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Pronunciation | [hirˠʃt̪] |
Norse name | Possibly Skildir |
Meaning of name | Unknown, possibly Gaelic for "westland" |
Location | |
St Kilda shown within the Outer Hebrides
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OS grid reference | NF095995 |
Coordinates | 57°48′N 8°36′W / 57.8°N 8.6°W |
Physical geography | |
Island group | St Kilda |
Area | 854.6 ha |
Highest elevation | Conachair 430 m |
Administration | |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Country | Scotland |
Council area | Comhairle nan Eilean Siar |
Demographics | |
Population | No permanent population since 1930 |
Largest settlement | Am Baile (the Village) |
References |
Pronunciation | ||
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Scots Gaelic: | Am Baile | |
Pronunciation: | [əm ˈpalə] | |
Scots Gaelic: | An Lag bhon Tuath | |
Pronunciation: | [ə ˈlˠ̪ak vɔn̪ˠ ˈt̪ʰuə] | |
Scots Gaelic: | Bàgh a’ Bhaile | |
Pronunciation: | [ˈpaːɣ ə valə] | |
Scots Gaelic: | cleitean | |
Pronunciation: | [ˈkʰlehtʲan] | |
Scots Gaelic: | Cleitean MacPhàidein | |
Pronunciation: | [ˈkʰlehtʲan maxkˈfaːtʲɛɲ] | |
Scots Gaelic: | Cnatan nan Gall | |
Pronunciation: | [ˈkʰɾãht̪an nəŋ ˈkaulˠ̪] | |
Scots Gaelic: | Conachair | |
Pronunciation: | [ˈkʰɔnəxəɾʲ] | |
Scots Gaelic: | Dòirneagan Hiort | |
Pronunciation: | [ˈt̪ɔːrˠɲakən ˈhirˠʃt̪] | |
Scots Gaelic: | Dùn | |
Pronunciation: | [ˈt̪uːn] | |
Scots Gaelic: | Gleann Mòr | |
Pronunciation: | [ˈklaun̪ˠ ˈmoːɾ] | |
Scots Gaelic: | Ì Àrd | |
Pronunciation: | [ˈiː ˈaːrˠt̪] | |
Scots Gaelic: | Loch Hiort | |
Pronunciation: | [lˠ̪ɔxˈhirˠʃt̪] | |
Scots Gaelic: | Mullach Bìgh | |
Pronunciation: | [ˈmulˠ̪əx ˈpiː] | |
Scots Gaelic: | Mullach Mòr | |
Pronunciation: | [ˈmulˠ̪əx ˈmoːɾ] | |
Scots Gaelic: | Oiseabhal | |
Pronunciation: | [ˈɔʃəvəlˠ̪] | |
Scots Gaelic: | Ruadhbhal | |
Pronunciation: | [ˈrˠuəvəlˠ̪] | |
Scots Gaelic: | Seann Taigh | |
Pronunciation: | [ˈʃaun̪ˠ ˈt̪ʰɤj] | |
Scots Gaelic: | Taigh an t-Sithiche | |
Pronunciation: | [ˈt̪ʰɤj əɲ ˈtʰʲi.ɪçə] | |
Scots Gaelic: | Taigh Dugain | |
Pronunciation: | [t̪ʰɤjˈt̪ukɛɲ] | |
Scots Gaelic: | Taigh na Banaghaisgich | |
Pronunciation: | [ˈt̪ʰɤj nə ˈpanaɣaʃkʲɪç] | |
Scots Gaelic: | Taigh Stallair | |
Pronunciation: | [ˈt̪ʰɤj ˈs̪t̪alˠ̪əɾʲ] |
UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
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Location | United Kingdom |
Criteria | iii, v, vii, ix, x |
Reference | 387 |
Coordinates | 57°49′00″N 8°35′00″W / 57.816666666667°N 8.5833333333333°W |
Inscription | 1986 (10th Session) |
Extensions | 2004; 2005 |
Website | www |
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Coordinates: 57°49′N 8°35′W / 57.817°N 8.583°W
St Kilda (Scottish Gaelic: Hiort) is an isolated archipelago 64 kilometres (40 mi) west-northwest of North Uist in the North Atlantic Ocean. It contains the westernmost islands of the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The largest island is Hirta, whose sea cliffs are the highest in the United Kingdom; three other islands (Dùn, Soay and Boreray) were also used for grazing and seabird hunting. The islands are administratively a part of the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar local authority area.
The origin of the name St Kilda is a matter of conjecture. The islands' human heritage includes numerous unique architectural features from the historic and prehistoric periods, although the earliest written records of island life date from the Late Middle Ages. The medieval village on Hirta was rebuilt in the 19th century, but illnesses brought by increased external contacts through tourism, and the upheaval of the First World War contributed to the island's evacuation in 1930. The story of St Kilda has attracted artistic interpretations, including Michael Powell's film The Edge of the World and an opera.