Orosay facts for kids
| Gaelic name | Orasaigh |
|---|---|
| Norse name | Örfirisey |
| Meaning of name | "tidal island" |
| OS grid reference | NF712060 |
| Coordinates | 57°01′41″N 7°25′14″W / 57.028056°N 7.420556°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Barra |
| Area | 38 ha (94 acres) |
| Highest elevation | 38 m (125 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | Scotland |
| Council area | Western Isles |
| Demographics | |
| Population | Uninhabited |
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Orosay (which is Orasaigh in Scottish Gaelic) is a tiny island in Scotland. It's a tidal island, meaning you can walk to it when the tide is low! You'll find it at the north end of a big beach called Traigh Mhòr, on the northeast coast of Barra.
Orosay is one of ten islands in the Sound of Barra. This area is very important for protecting nature in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The island is about 38 hectares (94 acres) in size. Its highest point is 38 meters (125 feet) above sea level.
What is Orosay?
Orosay is a special kind of island called a "tidal island." This means it's connected to the mainland by a strip of land or sand when the tide is out. You can walk across this path, but when the tide comes in, the path disappears under the water, and Orosay becomes a separate island again!
The name "Orosay" comes from an old Norse word, Örfirisey. This word means "tidal island" or "ebb island." You'll find similar names for islands in the Hebrides, like other small Orosays near Barra.
Where is Orosay Located?
Orosay is off the coast of Barra, a larger island in the Outer Hebrides. The closest village on Barra is Eoligarry. A narrow channel of water called Caolas Orasaigh separates Orosay from Eoligarry.
Nearby, you'll also find a smaller beach called Tràigh Cille-bharra. Further out in the Sound of Barra are other islands like Fuday, Greanamul, Gighay, and Hellisay.
A Unique Airport Runway
One of the most amazing things about this area is that Barra's airport uses the big beach, Traigh Mhòr, as its runway! This beach is also known as Cockle Strand.
Planes can only land and take off when the tide is low, because that's when the sand is exposed. This means the airport's schedule changes every day to match the tides. It's said to be the only airport in the world with scheduled flights that land right on a beach!
The planes that fly here are special. They are de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft. They fly between Barra and cities like Glasgow and Benbecula. People also collect cockles (a type of shellfish) from Traigh Mhòr when the tide is out.
Orosay in Stories
Even though Orosay has never been lived on permanently, it has appeared in books! The writer Julian Barnes set his short story "Marriage Lines" on Orosay. This story is part of his book Pulse, which came out in 2011.
