Slate Islands
The Slate Islands are an island group in the Inner Hebrides, lying immediately off the west coast of Lorn, all belonging to Argyllshire. This cluster of isles lies in the Firth of Lorn, between Jura to the south and Oban on the mainland to the north.
The main islands are Seil, Easdale, Luing, Lunga, Shuna, Torsa and Belnahua.
Nearby are Scarba and Kerrera, neither of which belongs to the group.[1]
The underlying geology of the islands is Dalradian slate, which was quarried widely until the mid-twentieth century. Quarry working began in 1630 and at the turn of the 20th century, the quarries were yielding some eight million slates every year. Eilean-a-beithich ("island of the birches") was once one of the Slate Islands, located in Easdale Sound. However, it was quarried to a depth of 250ft below sea level leaving only the outer rim of the island. This was eventually swept away by the sea and little visible sign of the island now remains.[2]
The Garvellachs lie immediately southwest of the islands.
Outside links
References
- ↑ Description of the Western Isles of Scotland. http://archive.org/stream/descriptionwest00monrgoog#page/n28/mode/2up
- ↑ "Slate Islands - The Islands that Roofed the World" southernhebrides.com. Retrieved 14 November 2009.
| The Slate Islands |
|---|
|
Belnahua • Easdale • Fladda • Luing • Lunga • Seil • Shuna • Torsa |