Editing Skellig Michael (section)

===Geology===
[[File:The Great Skellig.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4|Rock formations on Skellig Michael]]
The islands are composed of [[Old Red Sandstone]] and compressed [[slate]], and were formed between 360 and 374 million years ago, as part of the rising of the MacGillycuddy's Reeks and [[Caha Mountains]] mountains ranges. This occurred during the [[Devonian|Devonian period]] when Ireland was part of a larger continental landmass and located south of the [[equator]].{{sfn|Bourke|Hayden|Lynch|O'Sullivan|2011|p=3}}{{sfn|Site Management Plan}} The region's topography of peaks and valleys are characterised by steep ridges formed during the [[Variscan orogeny|Hercynian]] period of [[Fold (geology)|folding]] and [[mountain formation]] some 300 million years ago.{{sfn|Bourke|Hayden|Lynch|O'Sullivan|2011|p=3}} When the Atlantic ocean level rose, it created deep marine inlets such as [[Bantry Bay]] and left the Skelligs detached from the mainland. The rock is highly compressed and contains numerous fracture lines and joints.{{sfn|Site Management Plan}} As a result of erosion along a major north–south-trending [[Fault (geology)|fault line]] containing [[bedrock]] much more brittle than that on surrounding areas, a large part of the rock broke away, resulting in Christ's Saddle, the depression between the peaks.{{sfn|Site Management Plan}} The island's rock is deeply [[Erosion|eroded]] through exposure to wind and water.{{sfn| De Paor |1955|p=174}}

The Wailing Woman rock lies in the centre of the island, on the ascent before the Christ's Saddle ridge,{{sfn|O'Shea|1981|p=28}} {{cvt|400|ft|m|order=flip}} above sea level, on {{cvt|3|acre|ha|order=flip}} of grassland. It is the only flat and fertile part of the island, and thus contains traces of medieval crop farming. The path from the Saddle to the summit is known as the Way of the Christ, a nomenclature that reflects the danger presented to climbers.{{sfn|S. M.|1913|pp=166–67}} Notable features on this stretch include the Needle's Eye peak,{{sfn|O'Shea|1981|p=8}} a stone chimney {{convert|150|m}} above sea level,{{sfn|Goldbaum |2010}} and a series of 14 [[Stations of the Cross|stone crosses]] with names such as the "Rock of the Women's piercing caoine", further references to the harsh climb. Further up is the Stone of Pain area, including the station known as the Spit, a long and narrow fragment of rock approached by {{convert|2|ft|cm|sigfig=1|order=flip|adj=mid|-wide}} steps.{{sfn|S. M.|1913|p=167}} The ruin of the medieval church is lower and approached before the older monastery.{{sfn|O'Shea|1981|p=8}}