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Inner Hebrides
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{{Short description|Archipelago off the west coast of mainland Scotland}} {{good article}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}} {{Infobox Scottish island | GridReference= NM 53928 41384 | island group= [[Hebrides]] | Image= File:Inner Hebrides.png | ImageCaption= The Inner Hebrides of Scotland | area sqmi= 1,594 | highest elevation= [[Sgùrr Alasdair]] | local authority= [[Highland (council area)|Highland]]<br>[[Argyll and Bute]] | Population= 18,948 | references= }} The '''Inner Hebrides''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|h|ɛ|b|r|ɪ|d|iː|z}} {{respell|HEB|rid|eez}}; {{langx|gd|na h-Eileanan a-staigh||the Inner Isles}}) is an [[archipelago]] off the west coast of mainland [[Scotland]], to the south east of the [[Outer Hebrides]]. Together these two island chains form the [[Hebrides]], which experience a mild [[oceanic climate]]. The Inner Hebrides comprise 35 inhabited islands as well as 44 uninhabited islands with an area greater than {{convert|74|acres|ha|order=flip|0}}. [[Skye]], [[Isle of Mull|Mull]], and [[Islay]] are the three largest, and also have the highest populations. The main commercial activities are tourism, [[crofting]], fishing and [[Scotch whisky|whisky distilling]]. In modern times the Inner Hebrides have formed part of two separate local government jurisdictions, one to the north and the other to the south. Together, the islands have an area of about {{convert|1594|sqmi|km2|order=flip|abbr=on}}, and had a population of 18,948 in 2011.<ref name=GRO>{{GRO10}}</ref><ref name=NRS>{{NRS1C}}</ref> The population density is therefore about {{convert|4.6|PD/km2|PD/sqmi|abbr=off}}. There are various important prehistoric structures, many of which pre-date the first written references to the islands by [[Classical antiquity|Roman and Greek]] authors. In the historic period the earliest known settlers were [[Picts]] to the north and [[Gaels]] in the southern kingdom of [[Dál Riada]] prior to the islands becoming part of the ''[[Kingdom of Mann and the Isles|Suðreyjar]]'' kingdom of the [[Norsemen|Norse]], who ruled for over 400 years until sovereignty was transferred to Scotland by the [[Treaty of Perth]] in 1266. Control of the islands was then held by various [[Scottish clan|clan]] chiefs, principally the [[Clan MacLean|MacLeans]], [[Clan MacLeod|MacLeods]] and [[Clan Donald|MacDonalds]]. The [[Highland Clearances]] of the 19th century had a devastating effect on many communities and it is only in recent years that population levels have ceased to decline. Sea transport is crucial and a variety of ferry services operate to mainland Scotland and between the islands. The [[Scottish Gaelic|Gaelic language]] remains strong in some areas; the landscapes have inspired a variety of artists; and there is a diversity of wildlife. [[File:Tiree, Balephuil Bay.jpg|thumb|Looking west to Balephuil Bay, [[Tiree]] across the [[Machair (geography)|machair]]]] [[File:Kinloch Castle.jpg|thumb|[[Kinloch Castle]], [[Rùm]]]]
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