Sea of the Hebrides facts for kids

The Sea of the Hebrides (called An Cuan Barrach in Scottish Gaelic) is a part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is located off the northwest coast of Scotland.

This sea is special because it is partly sheltered. To the east, you can find the mainland of Scotland and the northern Inner Hebrides islands. These islands include Skye and the Small Isles. To the west are the southern Outer Hebrides islands, like South Uist, Eriskay, and Barra. To the north, the Little Minch connects it to a larger channel called the Minch.

The Sea of the Hebrides is part of a bigger area known as the Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland. This name is used by groups that study oceans and manage fishing.

Protecting the Sea of the Hebrides

The Scottish Government decided to protect the Sea of the Hebrides. In December 2020, they made it a Marine Protected Area (MPA). This means it's a special place where nature is looked after.

Why is it protected?

The main reason for protecting this area is to keep two amazing sea creatures safe:

• Basking sharks: These are the second-largest fish in the world. They eat tiny sea creatures called plankton.
• Minke whales: These are smaller whales that also live in the ocean.

The protected area covers a very large space, about 1,003,900 hectares (which is 10,039 square kilometers). Protecting this sea helps these animals and their homes stay healthy for the future.

Images for kids

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  A map showing the Inner and Outer Hebrides islands.

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  A friendly robot.

See also

In Spanish: Mar de las Hébridas para niños