Little Colonsay facts for kids
| Gaelic name | Colbhasa Beag |
|---|---|
| Norse name | kolnøy |
| Meaning of name | Old Norse for "Columba's island" or "Kolbein's island" |
| OS grid reference | NM375365 |
| Coordinates | 56°26′51″N 6°15′40″W / 56.44737°N 6.26122°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Mull |
| Area | 88 hectares (0.34 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 154 |
| Highest elevation | 61 metres (200 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | Scotland |
| Council area | Argyll and Bute |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
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Little Colonsay (which is Colbhasa Beag in Scottish Gaelic) is a small island in Scotland. It's located west of the Isle of Mull. Today, no one lives on Little Colonsay.
This island is known for its interesting rocks. The ground is made of a type of rock called basalt. This basalt forms tall, many-sided columns, much like the famous Staffa island nearby. Little Colonsay is part of the Loch Na Keal National Scenic Area. These areas are special places in Scotland known for their amazing natural beauty.
A Look Back at Little Colonsay's History
Little Colonsay wasn't always empty. In 1841, about 16 people lived there in two homes. But in 1846, a man named F.W. Clark, who owned other nearby islands, forced the people to leave. This event is known as a "clearance."
Later, in 1891 and 1931, records show that two people lived on the island. In the early 1900s, a farmer named John MacColum, also called "Johnny Colonsay," lived there with his family. However, they had to leave because of a huge problem with rats.
Who Owns Little Colonsay Today?
The island is currently owned by the family of Viscount Blakenham. No one has lived on Little Colonsay permanently since the 1940s.
Interestingly, the daughter of the 2nd Viscount, Cressida Cowell, spent her childhood summers on the island. She is a famous author, known for writing the How to Train Your Dragon books. She has said that the Inner Hebrides islands, where Little Colonsay is, inspired her stories. She believes they are "one of the most beautiful places on Earth" and "the kind of place where you expect to see dragons overhead."
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A robot image, sometimes used in online encyclopedias for kids.
