Lewis

Lewis, also Isle of Lewis ( Scottish Gaelic: Leodhas Leodhas / i or Eilean Leòdhias, An t - Eilean Fada, dt " long island ") is the northern region of the island of Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides.

Landscape

Lewis is not an island but as well as the southern island region of the Harris Lewis and Harris Island, which was considered because of the divisive, rugged mountain scenery of the residents with two names. The northern part of Lewis is characterized by wide, flat Torfmoorlandschaften with the 280 meter high Ben Barvas as the highest elevation and the Butt of Lewis, the northernmost point of the island group. The southern part is mountainous with elevations over 500 meters and enters the island part of Harris. The dividing line runs between Loch reasort and Loch Seaforth.

The coasts consist mainly of steep cliffs, in coves and on the northeastern side you will also find beaches with very fine sand, in the southern part also fjord-like inlets. In a large bay on the west coast of the island of Great Bernera is connected by a road bridge with Lewis, similar to the Eye Peninsula ( referred to by locals Point) on the east side.

Population

Most inhabitants live in the northern part of Lewis in the largest place Stornoway (Gaelic: Steòrnabhagh ), the capital of the islands. Otherwise, the coast is predominantly populated with small towns or houses collections. The population is predominantly Protestant and now lives from agriculture (mainly extensive sheep farming, currently playing more and more cattle ) and tourism. Increasingly, bears the fish and shrimp farming to the economic performance. Fishing - Stornoway was an important fishing port - still plays a role, but less important. In addition to English, many residents speak Gaelic.

Attractions

Culturally Lewis provides some of the highlights that show the long settlement history of the island:

  • The Standing Stones of Callanish are a more than 5000 year old megalithic worship. With over 20 currently known rock formations Callanish is the largest megalithic site in the British Isles.
  • The Dun Carloway is the relatively well-preserved ruins of an approximately 2000 -year-old Broch.
  • The island has a number of standing stones ( such as the Clach to Trushal ), stone circles, cairns and domes.
  • The Gearrannan Blackhouses is a museum at Arnol, which was inhabited until 1964. It shows how most of the population lived on the archipelago during the last centuries.
  • Found in 1831 and now exhibited in London, especially in the British Museum Lewis chessmen are considered the best preserved medieval chess pieces and form an outstanding example of the Norwegian population.
  • The horizontal mill and the kiln of Shawbost

Traffic

Lewis can be reached by car ferry or aircraft:

  • Stornoway has an airport, which is connected nationally.
  • From the Scottish mainland, there are daily ferry from Ullapool.
  • Other ferry services connecting Lewis with the neighboring islands, thus allowing an indirect arrival, eg by train to Kyle of Lochalsh, bus transfer on Skye to Uig and there on the ferry to Tarbert on Harris. From there, there are bus lines to Lewis.

The northern islands are strongly Protestant. Sundays have not only shops, restaurants and pubs closed, it is no bus and drove on Sunday until July 2009, no ferry. Then the schedule against the considerable opposition of the islanders was amended and introduced a Sunday ferry from Stornoway to Ullapool.

Wind farm

There are plans to build in the area of ​​Lewis the largest wind farm in Europe, with 200 wind turbines.

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