Sula Sgeir
Sula Sgeir is a small, uninhabited Scottish islet in the North Atlantic, 18 kilometres (9+1⁄2 nautical miles) west of Rona. One of the most remote islands of the British Isles, it lies approximately forty nautical miles (seventy kilometres) north of Lewis and is best known for its population of gannets. It has a narrow elongated shape running north-northeast to south-southwest, and is approximately 900 m long by typically 100 m wide (apart from a central headland projecting a further 100 m on the easterly side).
| Scottish Gaelic name | Sula Sgeir or Sùlaisgeir |
|---|---|
| Old Norse name | Súlasker |
| Meaning of name | Gannet Skerry |
| Location | |
Sula Sgeir Sula Sgeir shown within Scotland | |
| Coordinates | 59°5′44.25″N 6°9′23.37″W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | North Atlantic |
| Area | 15 ha |
| Highest elevation | (Near Sròn na Lice) > 70 m |
| Administration | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | Scotland |
| Council area | Comhairle nan Eilean Siar |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
| References | |
| Sula Sgeir Lighthouse Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar | |
Lighthouse and Cairn on Sulasgeir | |
| Coordinates | 59°5′37.47″N 6°9′31.97″W |
| Foundation | concrete base |
| Construction | metal tower |
| Height | 5 m (16 ft) |
| Shape | square parallelepiped with lantern |
| Markings | white tower |
| Power source | solar power |
| Operator | Rona and Sula Sgeir National Nature Reserve |
| Focal height | 74 m (243 ft) |
| Range | 11 nmi (20 km) |
| Characteristic | Fl W 15 s |
A ruined stone bothy called Taigh Beannaichte (Blessed House) can be found on the east headland, Sgeir an Teampaill. A small automated lighthouse on the south end at Sròn na Lice is regularly damaged by the huge waves which break over the island during rough North Atlantic storms. Despite this, the island has diverse flora.