Holy Island, Anglesey

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Holy
Native name: Ynys Gybi

A map showing the Isle of Anglesey and Holy Island
Holy Island, Anglesey is located in the United Kingdom
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Holy Island, Anglesey (the United Kingdom)
Geography
Location Irish Sea
Coordinates 53°17′N 4°37′W / 53.283°N 4.617°W / 53.283; -4.617Coordinates: 53°17′N 4°37′W / 53.283°N 4.617°W / 53.283; -4.617
Area 15.22 sq mi (39.42 km2)
Country
Wales
County Isle of Anglesey
Largest city Holyhead (pop. 11,237)
Demographics
Population 13,579 (as of 2001)
Density 344.64 /km2 (892.61 /sq mi)
Ethnic groups Welsh people

Holy Island (Welsh: Ynys Gybi, 'the island of (Saint) Cybi') is an island (15.22 sq mi (39.4 km2)) on the western side of the larger Isle of Anglesey, North Wales, from which it is separated by a narrow, winding channel. It is called "Holy" because of the high concentration of standing stones, burial chambers and other religious sites on the small island. The alternative and historic name of the island is Holyhead Island. According to the 2001 Census, the population is 13,579.

Contents

[edit] History

Holyhead Mountain

Irish pirates invaded Anglesey following the withdrawal of Rome from Britannia. Cunedda first began warfare against the Irish but ultimately Cadwallon Lawhir defeated the Irish on Holy Island.

[edit] Natural features

There are a variety of natural habitats on Anglesey including mudflats, dunes, marshes, and beaches.[1] The western side of the island is taken up mainly by Holyhead Mountain, an area of maritime heather moor, which is the highest peak in the county at 722 feet (220m).

[edit] Transport

Ordnance Survey map of Holy Island, 2010

Holy Island is connected to Anglesey by two road links. The first is made up of causeways carrying the A5/A55 road and the main railway line to Chester and London, and the original bridge of the A5 post road. The second is Four Mile Bridge which carries a 'B' road and is much smaller.

The main settlement is the port of Holyhead, from which passenger ferries travel to Dún Laoghaire and Dublin, Ireland, and freight ferries also travel to Dublin.

Around 30 miles (48 km) of the 125-mile (201 km) Anglesey Coastal Path is on Holy Island.

[edit] Shipwrecks

Peripheral islands and stacks include North Stack, and South Stack, with its famous lighthouse. Before—and even after—the construction of lighthouses, the cliffs and jagged rocks of the island were a great danger to sailors.

[edit] Reference footnotes

[edit] External links


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