Cardigan Island facts for kids
|
Native name:
Ynys Aberteifi
|
|
|---|---|
Carreg Lydan and Cardigan Island
|
|
 Cardigan Island
Location in Wales
Cardigan Island (Wales)
|
|
| Geography | |
| Location | Cardigan, Wales |
| Coordinates | 52°08′00″N 4°41′00″W / 52.133331°N 4.683333°W |
| Administration | |
|
Wales
|
|
| County | Ceredigion |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 (uninhabited) |
Cardigan Island, or Ynys Aberteifi in Welsh, is a small island off the coast of Wales. It is located north of Cardigan in Ceredigion. No people live on the island, making it uninhabited.
The island is about 52 meters (170 feet) tall at its highest point. It covers an area of about 38 acres. Cardigan Island sits in the estuary of the River Teifi. An estuary is where a river meets the sea.
The island is very close to the Welsh coastline, only about 200 meters (220 yards) away. The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales owns and manages this special place.
Contents
What Animals Live on Cardigan Island?
Cardigan Island is a home for many amazing animals. It is especially known for its small group of grey seals. You can often see these seals swimming around the island.
Birds of the Island
Long ago, Cardigan Island was home to many puffins and Manx shearwater birds. People even called the puffins "Welsh parrots" in the 1890s! A writer named Ronald Lockley noted about 25 to 30 pairs of puffins there in 1924.
However, in 1934, a big ship called the Herefordshire got stuck on the island during a storm. Rats from the ship got onto the island. These rats ate the eggs and baby birds of the puffins and Manx shearwaters. Sadly, these birds completely disappeared from the island and have never returned.
Today, many other birds still nest on Cardigan Island. You can see guillemots, razorbills, cormorants, shags, fulmars, and many types of gulls.
Marine Life Around the Island
The waters around Cardigan Island are full of life. Besides the grey seals, you might also spot bottlenose dolphins swimming and playing. The old shipwreck of the Herefordshire has created a home for many different kinds of sea creatures. This makes it a popular spot for divers to explore.
Protecting Cardigan Island
The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales works hard to protect Cardigan Island. They make sure the island remains a safe place for its wildlife. It took 45 years to get rid of the rats that came from the shipwreck. This shows how much effort goes into keeping the island healthy for its native animals.
