Tahay facts for kids
| Gaelic name | Taghaigh |
|---|---|
| Norse name | Tagg-øy |
| Meaning of name | island with a prominent hill |
| OS grid reference | NF965755 |
| Coordinates | 57°40′N 7°05′W / 57.67°N 7.09°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Uists & Barra |
| Area | 53 ha (130 acres) |
| Area rank | 196= |
| Highest elevation | 65 m (213 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | Scotland |
| Council area | Na h-Eileanan Siar |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
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Tahay (Scottish Gaelic: Taghaigh) is a small island located in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The name "Tahay" comes from an old language called Old Norse. In Old Norse, tagg-øy means "island with a prominent hill."
Tahay is about 53 hectares (131 acres) in size. It has a central peak that reaches 65 meters (213 feet) high. It is the largest of the islands off the northeast coast of North Uist where no one lives.
People use the island for two main things. Sheep graze, meaning they eat grass, on the island. People also cut peat there. Peat is a type of soil made from decayed plants that can be dried and burned for fuel.
History of Tahay
Early Settlers and Challenges
In 1846, six families moved to Tahay. They had been forced to leave their homes on another island called Pabbay. This happened during a time known as the Highland Clearances. During the Clearances, many people were moved from their land to make way for sheep farms.
Tahay had never been lived on before. The island does not have any arable land. This means there is no good soil for growing crops. The families hoped to make a living by fishing.
Leaving the Island
Life on Tahay proved to be very difficult for the families. Fishing was not enough to support them. By the 1850s, they decided to give up. All six families left Tahay and moved far away to Australia. Since then, no one has lived on Tahay.
Today, the Scottish Government owns Tahay.
See also
In Spanish: Tahay para niños
