Langaigh in the Sound of Harris - geograph

The Sound of Harris ( gd, Caolas na Hearadh) is a channel between the islands of

Harris Harris may refer to: Places Canada * Harris, Ontario * Northland Pyrite Mine (also known as Harris Mine) * Harris, Saskatchewan * Rural Municipality of Harris No. 316, Saskatchewan Scotland * Harris, Outer Hebrides (sometimes called the Isle of ...

and

North Uist North Uist ( gd, Uibhist a Tuath; sco, North Uise) is an island and community in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Etymology In Donald Munro's ''A Description of the Western Isles of Scotland Called Hybrides'' of 1549, North Uist, Benbecula and ...

in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.

Geography

Approximately in width, the Sound of Harris provides the main sea passage through the Hebridean

archipelago An archipelago ( ), sometimes called an island group or island chain, is a chain, cluster, or collection of islands, or sometimes a sea containing a small number of scattered islands. Examples of archipelagos include: the Indonesian Arc ...

, from the

Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe ...

The Minch The Minch ( gd, An Cuan Sgitheanach, ', ', '), also called North Minch, is a strait in north-west Scotland, separating the north-west Highlands and the northern Inner Hebrides from Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides. It was known as ("Sco ...

. There are many islands and numerous reefs in the Sound, the largest being Berneray, Pabbay, Ensay and Killegray. It is part of the South Lewis, Harris and North Uist National Scenic Area, one of 40 in Scotland."National Scenic Areas"
. SNH. Retrieved 30 Mar 2011.

Ferry

Since 1996, a vehicle ferry links

Leverburgh Leverburgh ( gd, An t-Òb is the second largest village, after Tarbert, in Harris in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Leverburgh is within the parish of Harris. In 1971 it had a population of 223. History In his 30s, English businessman Willi ...

, Harris to Berneray, itself connected by causeway to North Uist. Until the Berneray Causeway opened, the ferry landed at Otternish. The service is operated by

Caledonian MacBrayne Caledonian MacBrayne ( gd, Caledonian Mac a' Bhriuthainn), usually shortened to CalMac, is the major operator of passenger and vehicle ferries, and ferry services, between the mainland of Scotland and 22 of the major islands on Scotland's west ...

and was provided by until 2003, when she was replaced by the much larger, . A buoyed route is marked to ensure the ferry's safe passage. The MCA require that the vessel only proceed if the next two marker buoys are visible.

Footnotes

Landforms of the Outer Hebrides Uist Harris, Outer Hebrides {{WesternIsles-geo-stub