Little Skellig (Irish: Sceilig Bheag) is an unhabitable island in the Atlantic Ocean, 11 km south-west of Valentia Island in County Kerry, Ireland.[2] It is smaller than Skellig Michael (54 acres), its twin island. The two islands rose c. 374–360 million years ago during a period of mountain formation, along with the MacGillycuddy's Reeks mountain range. Later, they were separated from the mainland by rising water levels.[3][4]
  Little Skellig Little Skellig (Ireland) | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Atlantic Ocean |
| Coordinates | 51°45′58″N 10°31′59″W / 51.766°N 10.533°W |
| Area | 8 ha (20 acres)[1] |
| Highest elevation | 134 m (440 ft)[2] |
| Administration | |
| County | Kerry |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
Geography edit
Little Skellig is the smaller of the two Skellig Islands, the other being Skellig Michael, 1 km to the south-west.[1] The island has a large bird population, including a colony of northern gannets which is the largest in Ireland,[1] and one of the largest in the world.[2] The island, together with Skellig Michael, is the centre of a 364 ha Important Bird Area established by BirdWatch Ireland in 2000.[1]
Access edit
Landing on Little Skellig is not permitted.[2] BirdWatch Ireland has designated Little Skellig as a nature preserve. It houses over 35,000 breeding pairs of gannets.
Popular culture edit
The "Skellige Isles" or "Skellige" in the series The Witcher is based on the Skellig Islands. The word Skellig(e) derives from the Irish (Gaeilge) "Sceilg", which can be translated into "Rock" or "Cliff".
References edit
- ^ a b c d "The Skelligs: Great Skellig and Little Skellig". BirdLife International. Archived from the original on 12 February 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Little Skellig, Co. Kerry". BirdWatch Ireland. 2011. Retrieved 31 May 2012.
- ^ Bourke et al. 2011, p. 3.
- ^ Site Management Plan.
Sources edit
- Bourke, Edward; Hayden, Alan; Lynch, Ann; O'Sullivan, Michael (2011). Skellig Michael, Co. Kerry: The Monastery and South Peak: Archaeological Stratigraphic Report: Excavations 1986–2010 (PDF). Dublin: Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. OCLC 795846647.
- "Skellig Michael World Heritage Site Management Plan : 2008–2018". Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. 2008. OCLC 916003677.
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