Ailsa Craig
Ailsa Craig (/ˈeɪlsə/; Scots: Ailsae Craig; Scottish Gaelic: Creag Ealasaid) is an island of 99 ha (240 acres) in the outer Firth of Clyde, 16 km (8+1⁄2 nmi) west of mainland Scotland, upon which microgranite has long been quarried to make curling stones. The now-uninhabited island comprises the remains of a magmatic pluton formed during the same period of igneous activity as magmatic rocks on the nearby Isle of Arran.
| Scottish Gaelic name | Creag Ealasaid |
|---|---|
| Scots name | Ailsae Craig |
| Meaning of name | Elizabeth's rock or Fairy rock |
Ailsa Craig from the southeast | |
| Location | |
Ailsa Craig Ailsa Craig shown within South Ayrshire | |
| OS grid reference | NX019997 |
| Coordinates | 55°15′07″N 05°06′59″W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Firth of Clyde |
| Area | 99 ha (240 acres) |
| Area rank | 150= |
| Highest elevation | 338 m (1,109 ft) (a Marilyn) |
| Administration | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | Scotland |
| Council area | South Ayrshire |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
| References | |
The island, colloquially known as "Paddy's Milestone", was a haven for Catholics during the Scottish Reformation in the 16th century, but is today a bird sanctuary, providing a home for huge numbers of gannets and an increasing number of puffins.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.