Ulva

The island of Ulva ( Scottish Gaelic Ulbha? / I ) is located three kilometers west of Mull in the Atlantic in Scotland. It is about 12 km long, 4 km wide and almost 20 km ². It originated about 60 million years ago by volcanic eruptions of Ben More, the 966 meters is the highest mountain of Mull today; as well as the island of Staffa and Mull emerged. 60 million years ago, the sea level dropped dramatically, so that by early basalt layers of caves came to the fore. Where the undistributed lava of Ben More finally cooled, the sea was able to conquer the land, leaving jagged and eroded coastal strip back.

The island is mostly treeless, the highest point is 313 meters high Beinn Chreagach. The island is in many places covered with carnations, orchids and sundews.

1770, the island was inhabited by 600 people, in 1780 only 100 of the 500 missing, and the 30 residents of neighboring mini island Gometra were, by the Highland Clearances sold ( " cleansing" ) of large landowners in 1786. 2001 were still alive 16 people on the island. Students must be brought by boat to the school to Mull.

The inhabitants live mainly from the oyster and the sheep. Fishing also plays a major role. Tourism has hardly found its way to the island, which may be because that there are on the island no accommodation. The population lives in the places Ormaig Tin -at- Shainn (deprecated Ormaig ) and Cragaìg.

The inhabitants speak Scottish Gaelic in everyday life, and all signs are written to Scottish.

Interesting addition to the beautiful scenery of several dolmens and menhirs, two ancient Celtic cemeteries, numerous traces of Clearances and some caves. At low tide you can walk also to the neighboring island Gometra on which you can still find traces of settlements and remains of a fortress.