Editing Inner Hebrides (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Tobermory, Isle of Mull.jpg|thumb|[[Tobermory, Mull|Tobermory]], the largest settlement on [[Isle of Mull|Mull]]]]
[[File:Sgurr alasdair.jpg|thumb|[[Sgurr Alasdair]], the highest peak in the Inner Hebrides]]

The islands form a disparate archipelago. The largest islands are, from south to north, [[Islay]], [[Jura, Scotland|Jura]], [[Isle of Mull|Mull]], [[Rùm]] and [[Skye]]. Skye is the largest and most populous of all with an area of {{convert|1656|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} and a population of just over 10,000.<ref name=NRS/><ref name=HSTabs>Haswell-Smith (2004) pp. 502-5</ref><ref name=HS173>Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 173</ref>

The southern group are in [[Argyll]], an area roughly corresponding with the heartlands of the ancient kingdom of [[Dál Riata]] and incorporated into the modern [[Council areas of Scotland|unitary council area]] of [[Argyll and Bute]]. The northern islands were part of the [[Counties of Scotland|county]] of [[Inverness-shire]] and are now in the [[Highland (local government area)|Highland Council]] area.

===Physical===
{{main|List of Inner Hebrides}}
The ten largest islands are as follows.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:60%; border:0; text-align:left; line-height:150%;"
|-
! style="width:10%;"|Island
! style="width:10%;"|Gaelic name
! style="width:5%;"|Area ([[hectare|ha]])<ref name=area>Haswell-Smith (2004) pp. 30, 79, 130, 148 and 182 except estimates from [[Ordnance Survey]] maps as indicated.</ref>
! style="width:5%;"|Population<ref name=NRS/>
! style="width:10%;"|Highest point<ref name=high>Haswell-Smith (2004) and [[Ordnance Survey]] maps.</ref>
! style="width:5%;"|Height (m)<ref name=OS>Ordnance Survey maps.</ref>
! style="width:10%;"|Gaelic Speakers
|-
| [[Coll]]
| ''Colla''
| {{nts|7685}}
| {{nts|195}}
|Ben Hogh
| {{nts|104}}
|
|-
| [[Colonsay]]
| ''Colbhasa''
| {{nts|4074}}
| {{nts|124}}
|Carnan Eoin
| {{nts|143}}
| 20.2% (15)
|-
| [[Eigg]]
| ''Eige''
| {{nts|3049}}
| {{nts|83}}
| [[An Sgurr (Eigg)|An Sgurr]]
| {{nts|393}}
|
|-
| [[Islay]]
| {{sort|Ile|''Ìle''}}
| {{nts|61956}}
| {{nts|3228}}
| [[Beinn Bheigeir]]
| {{nts|491}}
| 19% (613)
|-
| [[Jura, Scotland|Jura]]
| ''Diùra''
| {{nts|36692}}
| {{nts|196}}
| [[Beinn an Òir]]
| {{nts|785}}
|
|-
| [[Lismore, Scotland|Lismore]]
| ''Lios Mor''
| {{nts|2351}}
| {{nts|192}}
| Barr Mòr
| {{nts|127}}
| 26.9% (50)
|-

|-
| [[Isle of Mull|Mull]]
| ''Muile''
| {{nts|87535}}
| {{nts|2800}}
| [[Ben More (Mull)|Ben More]]
| {{nts|966}}
|
|-
| [[Raasay]]
| ''Ratharsair''
| {{nts|6231}}
| {{nts|161}}
| Dùn Caan
| {{nts|444}}
| 30.4% (48)
|-
| [[Rùm]]
| ''Rùm''
| {{nts|10463}}
| {{nts|22}}
| [[Askival]]
| {{nts|812}}
|
|-
| [[Skye]]
| ''An t-Eilean Sgitheanach''<br />or ''Eilean a' Cheò''
| {{nts|165625}}
| {{nts|10008}}
| [[Sgurr Alasdair]]
| {{nts|993}}
| 29.4% (2,942)
|-
| [[Tiree]]
| ''Tiriodh''
| {{nts|7834}}
| {{nts|653}}
| Ben Hynish
| {{nts|141}}
| 38.3% (250)
|-
| TOTAL
|
|
| {{nts|18947}}
|
|
| 20.7% (3,918)
|}
<ref name="bbc">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/naidheachdan/24954480/|publisher=bbc.co.uk|title=Crìonadh mòr sa Ghàidhlig anns na h-Eileanan – Naidheachdan a' BhBC|access-date=15 April 2017|newspaper=Naidheachdan A' Bhbc|date=2013-11-15}}</ref>

The geology and geomorphology of the islands is varied. Some, such as Skye and Mull, are mountainous, whilst others like [[Tiree]] are relatively low-lying. The highest mountains are the [[Cuillin]]s of Skye, although peaks over {{convert|300|m|ft}} are common elsewhere.<ref name=HSTabs/> Much of the coastline is [[Machair (geography)|machair]], a fertile low-lying dune pastureland.<ref>McKirdy et al. (2007) p. 224</ref> Many of the islands are swept by strong tides, and the [[Gulf of Corryvreckan|Corryvreckan tide race]] between [[Scarba]] and Jura is one of the largest whirlpools in the world.<ref>The Corryvreckan is regularly cited as the third largest whirlpool of the world – see for example [http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst10418.html "Corryvreckan Whirlpool "] ''Gazetteer for Scotland''. Retrieved 19 September 2009. Some sources suggest it is the second largest after the [[Moskstraumen]].</ref>

There are various smaller archipelagoes including the [[Ascrib Islands]], [[Crowlin Islands]], [[Slate Islands, Scotland|Slate Islands]], [[Small Isles]], [[Summer Isles]] and [[Treshnish Islands]].

The islands are shown to be important as a region of tidal mixing of coastal water.<ref>D. J. Ellett and A. Edwards, O''ceanography and inshore hydrography of the Inner Hebrides'', Cambridge University Press, 26 July 2012, [https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/proceedings-of-the-royal-society-of-edinburgh-section-b-biological-sciences/article/abs/oceanography-and-inshore-hydrography-of-the-inner-hebrides/360FC2DD6A5D05F80A18C901BD9DF87F link].</ref>

===Human===
{{Historical populations
|type =
|footnote =<ref name=GRO/><ref name=NRS/>
|2001 | 18257
|2011 | 18948
}}
[[File:Laphroaig Distillery.jpg|thumb|[[Laphroaig]] distillery, [[Islay]]]]
The inhabited islands of the Inner Hebrides had a population of 18,257 at the 2001 census,<ref name=GRO/> and this grew to 18,948 in 2011.<ref name=NRS/> During the same period [[List of Scottish islands|Scottish island]] populations as a whole grew by 4% to 103,702.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-23711202 "Scotland's 2011 census: Island living on the rise"]. BBC News. Retrieved 18 August 2013.</ref>
There are a further 44 uninhabited Inner Hebrides with an area greater than {{convert|74|acre|ha|0|order=flip|abbr=on}}.{{refn|There are 43 such islands recorded at [[List of Inner Hebrides]] and in addition there is [[Lunga, Firth of Lorn|Lunga]], which had a population in 2001 but not in 2011.<ref name=NRS/>|group=Note}} Records for the last date of settlement for the smaller islands are incomplete, but most of them were inhabited at some point during the [[Neolithic]], [[Iron Age]], [[Early Middle Ages|Early Historic]] or [[Viking|Norse]] periods. In common with the other main island chains of Scotland, many of the smaller and more remote islands were abandoned during the 19th and 20th centuries, in some cases after continuous habitation since prehistoric times. These islands had been perceived as relatively self-sufficient agricultural economies,<ref>See for example Hunter (2000) pp. 152–158</ref> but a view developed among both islanders and outsiders that the more remote islands lacked the essential services of a modern industrial economy.<ref>See for example Maclean (1977) Chapter 10: "Arcady Despoiled" pp. 125–35</ref> However, the populations of the larger islands grew overall by more than 12% from 1981 to 2001.<ref name=GRO/>

The main commercial activities are tourism, [[croft (land)|crofting]], fishing and [[Scotch whisky|whisky distilling]] (centred on [[Islay whisky|Islay]] but also including [[Talisker distillery|Talisker]] in [[Skye]], [[Isle of Jura Single Malt]] and [[Tobermory (distillery)|Tobermory and Ledaig]] in [[Isle of Mull|Mull]]). Overall, the area is relatively reliant on primary industries and the public sector; there is a dependence on self-employment and micro-business, and most parts are defined by [[Highlands and Islands Enterprise]] as economically "Fragile Areas". However, the islands are well placed to exploit renewable energy, particularly onshore and offshore wind; and the [[Sleat]] peninsula of Skye is an example of a more economically robust area.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20101012202520/http://www.hie.co.uk/highlands-and-islands/area-information/argyll-and-the-islands/economic-profile.html "Argyll and the Islands - economic profile"]. HIE. Retrieved 28 December 2010.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20101013045330/http://www.hie.co.uk/highlands-and-islands/area-information/lochaber-skye-and-wester-ross/economic-profile.html "Lochaber, Skye and Wester Ross - economic profile']. HIE. Retrieved 28 December 2010.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20101217130006/http://hie.co.uk/support-for-communities/growing-fragile-communities/default.html "Growing fragile communities"]. HIE. Retrieved 28 December 2010.</ref> Some of the islands have [[development trust]]s that support the local economy.<ref>[http://www.dtascot.org.uk/content/directory-of-members "Directory of Members"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100719214140/http://www.dtascot.org.uk/content/directory-of-members |date=19 July 2010 }} DTA Scotland. Retrieved 15 July 2007.</ref>

===Climate===
The influence of the Atlantic Ocean and the [[North Atlantic Current]] creates a mild oceanic climate. Temperatures are generally cool, averaging 6.5&nbsp;°C (44&nbsp;°F) in January and 15.4&nbsp;°C (60&nbsp;°F) in July at Duntulm on the [[Trotternish]] peninsula of Skye.<ref name=Cooper/><ref>See also [http://www.carbostweather.co.uk/Staffin/staffinweather.htm "Weather Data for Staffin Isle of Skye"]. carbostweather.co.uk. Retrieved 7 June 2008.</ref> Snow seldom lies at sea level and frosts are fewer than on the mainland. Winds are a limiting factor for vegetation: a speed of 128&nbsp;km/h (80&nbsp;mph) has been recorded; south-westerlies are the most common. Rainfall is generally high at between {{convert|1300 and 2000|mm|in|0|abbr=off}} per annum, and the mountains and hills are wetter still.<ref name=WHM147>[[#Mur66|Murray (1966)]] p. 147.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20101229172355/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/regmapavge.html "Regional mapped averages"]. [[Met Office]]. Retrieved 28 December 2010.</ref> Tiree is one of the sunniest places in the country and had 300 days of sunshine in 1975. Trotternish typically has 200 hours of bright sunshine in May, the sunniest month.<ref>Murray (1973) p. 79.</ref><ref>For Islay data see [http://www.islayinfo.com/weather.html "Islay weather and climate"] http://www.islayinfo.com. Retrieved 28 December 2010.</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Duntulm, Skye
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
|Jan high C = 6.5
|Feb high C = 6.6
|Mar high C = 8.1
|Apr high C = 9.6
|May high C = 12.4
|Jun high C = 14.3
|Jul high C = 15.4
|Aug high C = 15.7
|Sep high C = 14.2
|Oct high C = 11.5
|Nov high C = 9.1
|Dec high C = 7.6
|year high C = 10.9
|Jan low C = 2.4
|Feb low C = 2.2
|Mar low C = 3.3
|Apr low C = 4.3
|May low C = 6.5
|Jun low C = 8.7
|Jul low C = 10.4
|Aug low C = 10.7
|Sep low C = 9.4
|Oct low C = 7.2
|Nov low C = 5.1
|Dec low C = 3.6
|year low C = 6.2
|Jan precipitation inch = 5.84
|Feb precipitation inch = 3.93
|Mar precipitation inch = 3.24
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.40
|May precipitation inch = 2.87
|Jun precipitation inch = 3.35
|Jul precipitation inch = 3.83
|Aug precipitation inch = 4.41
|Sep precipitation inch = 5.05
|Oct precipitation inch = 6.00
|Nov precipitation inch = 5.63
|Dec precipitation inch = 5.58
|year precipitation inch = 53.13
|source 1 = <ref name=Cooper>Cooper (1983) pp. 33-5. Averages for rainfall are for 1916–50, temperature 1931–60.</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}