Editing Skellig Michael (section)

{{Short description|UNESCO heritage island off coast of Kerry, Ireland}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=August 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox islands
|name=Skellig Michael
|native_name=Sceilg Mhichíl
|image_name=Skellig Michael03(js).jpg
|image_size=290px
|image_caption=Skellig Michael
|image_alt=
|map=island of Ireland
|map_caption=
|location=[[Atlantic Ocean]]
|coordinates=
|archipelago=
|total_islands=
|major_islands=
|area_ha=21.9
|area_footnotes={{sfn|Bourke|Hayden|Lynch|O'Sullivan|2011|p=3}}
|rank=
|length_km=<!-- or length m -->
|length_footnotes=
|width_km=<!-- or width m -->
|width_footnotes=
|coastline_km=<!-- or coastline m -->
|coastline_footnotes=
|elevation_m=218
|elevation_footnotes={{sfn|UNESCO}}
|country=Ireland
|country_admin_divisions_title=County
|country_admin_divisions=[[County Kerry|Kerry]]
|population=0
|footnotes=
 {{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site
 |child=yes
 |Official_name=Sceilg Mhichíl
 |ID=757
 |Year=1996
 |Criteria=Cultural: iii, iv
 }}
}}
'''Skellig Michael''' ({{langx|ga|Sceilg Mhichíl}} {{IPA|ga|ˌʃcɛlʲəɟ ˈvʲɪçiːlʲ|}}), also called '''Great Skellig''' ({{langx|ga|link=no|Sceilig Mhór}} {{IPA|ga|ˈʃcɛlʲəɟ woːɾˠ|}}), is a twin-pinnacled [[Crag and tail|crag]] {{convert|11.6|km}} west of the [[Iveragh Peninsula]] in [[County Kerry]], Ireland. The island is named after the archangel [[Michael (archangel)|Michael]], with "Skellig" derived from the [[Irish language]] word {{lang|ga|sceilig}}, meaning a splinter of stone. Its twin island, [[Little Skellig]] ({{lang|ga|Sceilig Bheag}}), is smaller and inaccessible (landing is not permitted). The [[Skellig Islands|two islands]] rose c. 374–360 million years ago during a period of [[mountain formation]], along with the [[MacGillycuddy's Reeks]] mountain range. Later, they were separated from the mainland by rising water levels.

Skellig Michael consists of approximately {{convert|54|acre|ha|order=flip}} of rock, with its highest point, known as the Spit, {{cvt|714|ft|m|order=flip}} [[Metres above sea level|above sea level]]. The island is defined by its twin peaks and intervening valley (known as Christ's Saddle), which make its landscape steep and inhospitable. It is best known for its [[Gaelic Ireland|Gaelic]] monastery, founded between the 6th and 8th centuries, and its variety of inhabiting species, which include [[northern gannet|gannets]], [[Atlantic puffin|puffins]], a colony of [[razorbill]]s and a population of approximately fifty [[grey seal]]s.{{sfn|Lavelle|1976|pp=31–2}} The island is of special interest to archaeologists, as the [[Christian monasticism|monastic settlement]] is in unusually good condition. The monastery is situated at an elevation of {{cvt|550|to|600|ft|m|order=flip}}, Christ's Saddle at {{cvt|422|ft|m|order=flip}}, and the flagstaff area at {{cvt|120|ft|m|order=flip}} above sea level.{{sfn|O'Shea|1981|p=3}}

The monastery can be approached by narrow and steep flights of stone steps which ascend from three landing points. The hermitage on the south peak contains a dangerous approach and is largely closed to the public. Because of the often difficult crossing from the mainland and the exposed nature of the landing spots, the island is accessible only during summer months. [[UNESCO]] designated Skellig Michael a [[World Heritage Site]] in 1996.{{sfn|UNESCO}}