Vatersay

Infobox Scottish island |


latitude=56.93
longitude=-7.53
GridReference=NL635955
celtic name=Bhatarsaigh
norse name=
meaning of name="Water island"
area= 960 ha (3.7 sq. miles)
area rank= 50
highest elevation=Theiseabhal Mòr 190 m
Population=94
population rank=46
main settlement=Baile Bhatarsaigh
island group=Uist and Barra
local authority=Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
references= [2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland] cite book| author=Haswell-Smith, Hamish| date=1997| title=The Scottish Islands| location=Edinburgh| publisher=Canongate| isbn=0862415799] [cite map| url=http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/| title=1:50,000| publisher=Ordnance Survey] [cite web| url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/language/gaelic/pdfs/placenamesP-Z.pdf| title=Pàrlamaid na h-Alba placenames| accessdate=2007-07-21]

Vatersay (Scottish Gaelic: Bhatarsaigh) is an inhabited island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Vatersay is also the name of the only village on the island.

Location

The westernmost permanently inhabited place in Scotland, Vatersay is linked to Barra by a causeway completed in 1991. At low tide, the island is also linked to the islet of Uineasan to the east.

Wildlife

Wildlife on the island includes otters, seals and herons. Bonnie Prince Charlie's flower ("Calystegia soldanella"), reputedly originating from French seeds dropped by Bonnie Prince Charlie is, in Scotland, found only on Vatersay and Eriskay.

Archaeology

The island has remains of an Iron Age fort.

hipwreck

One of the saddest events to befall the island happened more than 150 years ago. The [http://www.isleofvatersay.com/Vatersay2chist.html Annie Jane] , a three-masted immigrant ship out of Liverpool bound for Montreal, Canada, struck rocks off West Beach during a storm on Tuesday 28th September, 1853. Within 10 minutes the ship began to founder and break up casting 450 people into the raging sea. In spite of the conditions, islanders tried to rescue the passengers and crew.

There were only a hundred survivors. The remains of 350 men, women and children were buried in the dunes behind the beach. A small cairn and monument marks the site.

External links

* [http://www.thevatersayboys.com Homepage of Vatersay's well known Band, THE VATERSAY BOYS]
* [http://www.isleofbarra.com/vatersay.htm More information about Vatersay]
* [http://robinwilson.net/vatersay/vatersay.html Panorama of the West Bay on Vatersay (Annie Jane burial cairn and monument)] (QuickTime required)