Ynys Benlas facts for kids
Ynys Benlas is a small island, often called an islet, located in the Inland Sea. This sea is known as Y Lasinwen in Welsh. It sits between the larger islands of Anglesey and Holy Island in Wales.
This little island is about 65 metres long from east to west. It is also around 35 metres wide from north to south when the tide is low. In total, it covers about 0.2 hectares, which is a very small area.
It's good to know that this Ynys Benlas is not the same as other places with similar names. There is another Ynys Benlas near Church Island in the Menai Strait. Also, it is different from Ynys-las near RAF Valley.
What's in a Name?
The name Ynys Benlas comes from the Welsh language. It means "blue top island." People believe it got this name because many bluebell flowers used to grow there. These beautiful blue flowers would have made the island's top look blue.
Interestingly, old maps from the late 1800s show a slightly different name. On these maps, the islet was called Ynys Henlas. This name also comes from Welsh and means "old blue island."
A Look into the Past
Ynys Benlas might have a long history. An old book called the Archaeological Journal from 1844 mentions the islet. In this journal, it is called Ben Las.
The journal suggests that this small island could have been an ancient signal hill. A signal hill was a place where people might have lit fires or used other signals. These signals could have warned others about danger or sent messages across the land.
