Puffin Island (County Kerry) facts for kids
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Native name:
Oileán na gCánóg
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Puffin Island, with the Skelligs in the background
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 Puffin Island
Location in island of Ireland
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| Geography | |
| Location | Atlantic Ocean |
| Coordinates | 51°50′N 10°25′W / 51.833°N 10.417°W |
| Length | 1.5 km (0.93 mi) |
| Width | 0.7 km (0.43 mi) |
| Highest elevation | 159 m (522 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Province | Munster |
| County | Kerry |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
| Puffin Island | |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 159 m (522 ft) |
| Prominence | 159 m (522 ft) |
| Listing | Marilyn |
| Geography | |
| OSI/OSNI grid | V339677 |
Puffin Island, known as Oileán na gCánóg in Irish, is a rocky island off the coast of County Kerry, Ireland. No one lives on this island. It is a very important place for many kinds of seabirds.
Contents
What is Puffin Island Like?
Puffin Island is about 1.5 kilometers (almost 1 mile) long. It is also about 0.7 kilometers (less than half a mile) wide. The island's highest point is 159 meters (about 520 feet) above the sea.
The island is separated from the mainland by a narrow stretch of water. This water is called Puffin Sound. It is only about 250 meters (820 feet) wide. You can arrange day trips to the island from Valentia.
Why is Puffin Island Important for Nature?
Puffin Island is a special place for many types of seabirds. It is home to large groups of Atlantic puffins. It also has many Manx shearwaters and European storm-petrels. These birds come to the island to nest and raise their young.
Because it is so important for birds, the Irish Wildbird Conservancy bought the island. This group is now called BirdWatch Ireland. They made Puffin Island a nature reserve in the early 1980s. This helps protect the birds and their homes.
What is the History of Puffin Island?
Even though no one lives on Puffin Island now, people have been interested in it for a long time. There are signs that people lived on the island a very long time ago. These signs have caught the attention of archaeologists. Archaeologists are scientists who study human history by digging up old things.
Photo gallery
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Puffin Island from mainland
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Puffin Island and, in the distance to its left, Valentia Island
