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Rainish Eilean Mòr

Coordinates: 58°9′41″N 6°26′43″W / 58.16139°N 6.44528°W / 58.16139; -6.44528
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Scottish Gaelic nameRainish Eilean Mòr
Meaning of namelarge island of Rainish
Location
Rainish Eilean Mòr is located in Outer Hebrides
Rainish Eilean Mòr
Rainish Eilean Mòr
Rainish Eilean Mòr shown within the Outer Hebrides
OS grid referenceNB386280
Coordinates58°09′49″N 6°26′24″W / 58.1637°N 6.44°W / 58.1637; -6.44
Physical geography
Island groupFreshwater
Area27 ha (67 acres)[1]
Highest elevation70 m (230 ft)[2]
Administration
Council areaNa h-Eileanan Siar
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Demographics
Population0
Lymphad
Loch Orasaigh and Rainish Eilean Mòr with the hills of Harris beyond.

58°9′41″N 6°26′43″W / 58.16139°N 6.44528°W / 58.16139; -6.44528 Rainish Eilean Mòr is an uninhabited island in Loch Orasaigh, north of the village of Leurbost in the area of South Lochs on the Isle of Lewis, Lewis and Harris. At 27 hectares (67 acres) in extent, it is one of Scotland's larger freshwater islands, but it is probably the largest relative to the size of the body of water in which it sits, Loch Orasaigh being only about 125 hectares (310 acres) in area.

The entirety of the loch has been an SSSI since 1983 and the island's perimeter and the neighbouring islet to the south west have woodland cover including the species of Rowan, Aspen, Downy Birch, Grey Willow and Sallow Willow. The underlying geology is Lewisian Gneiss overlain by peaty podzols and gleys.[1]

The Gaelic name of the island means "large island of Rainish" and is taken from the surrounding area, which itself means "Roe deer headland", from Old Norse.[3]

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b SNH (2008) p. 18.
  2. ^ Ordnance Survey. OS Maps Online (Map). 1:25,000. Leisure.
  3. ^ Mac an Tàilleir, Iain (2003) Ainmean-àite/Placenames. (pdf) Pàrlamaid na h-Alba. Retrieved 26 August 2012.