Hebrides, the definition of Hebrides, the in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

Hebrides, the (hĕb`rĭdēz), Western Isles, or Western Islands, group of more than 50 islands, W and NW Scotland. Less than a fifth of the islands are inhabited. The

Outer Hebrides (sometimes also referred to as the Long Island) are separated from the mainland and from the Inner Hebrides by the straits of Minch and Little Minch and by the Sea of the Hebrides; they extend for 130 mi (209 km) from the Butt of Lewis on Lewis and Harris Lewis and Harris, island (1985 est. pop. 23,500), 825 sq mi (2,137 sq km), largest and northernmost of the Outer Hebrides , Western Isles council area, NW Scotland, 24 mi (35 km) from the mainland across the Minch. The island is also called Lewis or the Lews.
..... Click the link for more information. to Barra Head island. Other islands are North Uist Uist, North (y
..... Click the link for more information. , Benbecula, South Uist, Barra, the Flannan Islands (Seven Hunters), and Saint Kilda. The Outer Hebrides comprise the council area of Western Isles. The

Inner Hebrides include the islands of Skye Skye (skī), island (1991 pop.
..... Click the link for more information. , Raasay, Rum, Eigg, Coll, Tiree, Staffa Staffa (stăf`ə), uninhabited island, 3-4 mi (1.2 km) long and 1-4 mi (.
..... Click the link for more information. , Iona Iona (īōn`ə) [Irish Ioua=island] or Icolmkill [Irish,=island of Columba of the church], island (1985 est. pop. 267), 3.
..... Click the link for more information. , Mull Mull, island, 351 sq mi (909 sq km), Argyll and Bute, NW Scotland, largest island of the Inner Hebrides, separated from the mainland by the Sound of Mull and the Firth of Lorn.
..... Click the link for more information. , Scarba, Colonsay Colonsay (kŏl`ənzā), island, 17 sq mi (44 sq km), Argyll and Bute, NW Scotland, one of the Inner Hebrides.
..... Click the link for more information. , Oronsay Oronsay (ô`rənsā, ŏ`rənzā), island, 3 sq mi (7.
..... Click the link for more information. , Jura, and Islay Islay (ī`lā, ī`lə), island (1985 est. pop.
..... Click the link for more information. . They are divided between the Highland and Argyll and Bute council areas. The climate is mild, the scenery is beautiful, and there are prehistoric and ancient historical remains and geological structures. Fishing, crop raising, sheep grazing, manufacturing of tweeds and other woolens, quarrying (slate), and catering to tourists are the chief means of livelihood.

The original Celtic inhabitants, converted to Christianity by St. Columba (6th cent.), were conquered by the Norwegians (starting in the 8th cent.). They held the Southern Islands, as they called them, until 1266. From that time the islands were formally held by the Scottish crown but were in fact ruled by various Scottish chieftains, with the Macdonalds asserting absolute rule after 1346 as lords of the isles. In the mid-18th cent. the Hebrides were incorporated into Scotland. The tales of Sir Walter Scott Scott, Sir Walter, 1771–1832, Scottish novelist and poet, b. Edinburgh. He is considered the father of both the regional and the historical novel.

Early Life and Works

..... Click the link for more information. did much to make the islands famous. Emigration from the overpopulated islands occurred in the 20th cent., especially to Canada.