Western Rocks, Isles of Scilly
| Western Rocks | |
 Scilly, with the Western Rocks in the lower left | |
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| Grid reference: | SV850070 |
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Western Rocks are a group of uninhabited, uninhabitable islands amongst the Isles of Scilly, Cornwall. They are known for the numerous shipwrecks in the area, and as a rich habitat for breeding colonies of seabirds.
Geography
The western rocks are found to the south-west of St Mary's. Annet and St Agnes lie immediately to their north-east and only Bishop Rock, Cornwall’s westernmost point, is further west.
The larger islands in this grouping are, from north to south:
- Great Crebwethan
- Rosevear
- Rosevan
- Daisy
- Pednathise Head.
Rosevear Ledge and the Gilstone Reef are just to the west of this group. Smaller islands within the Western Rocks are: Codnors Rocks, Crebwethan, Jolly Rock, Jacky's Rock, Silver Carn, Gorregan and Melledgan.[1]
All of these islets are composed of granite rock of late Carboniferous age. The islands are largely protected as nature reserves and wildlife refuges of the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust.[1] In 1971 the islands were designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for their Flora and fauna of Cornwall|biological characteristics.[2]
Shipwrecks
Throughout history, the Western Rocks have been the scene of a great number of shipwrecks, and in particular the Gilstone Reef has been the cause of many maritime disasters, most notably the sinking of Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell's flagship HMS Association in the naval disaster of 1707.
References
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Western Rocks, Isles of Scilly) |
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Ordnance Survey: Explorer map sheet 101 Isles of Scilly ISBN 9780319237021
- ↑ "Western Rocks". Natural England. 5 December 1986. http://www.sssi.naturalengland.org.uk/citation/citation_photo/1002074.pdf. Retrieved 15 February 2012.
| Isles of Scilly |
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St Mary's •
St Agnes •
Tresco •
Bryher •
St Martin's •
Gugh
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