Puffin Island (County Kerry)
Puffin Island (Oileán na gCánóg in Irish) is an uninhabited steep rocky island lying off the coast of the Iveragh Peninsula, County Kerry, Ireland.
Native name: Oileán na gCánóg | |
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Puffin Island, with the Skelligs in the background | |
Puffin Island | |
Geography | |
Location | Atlantic Ocean |
Coordinates | 51°50′N 10°25′W |
Length | 1.5 km (0.93 mi) |
Width | 0.7 km (0.43 mi) |
Highest elevation | 159 m (522 ft)[1] |
Administration | |
Province | Munster |
County | Kerry |
Demographics | |
Population | 0 |
Puffin Island | |
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Highest point | |
Elevation | 159 m (522 ft) [1] |
Prominence | 159 m (522 ft) [1] |
Listing | Marilyn |
Geography | |
OSI/OSNI grid | V339677 |
Geography
The island is about 1.5 km long and 0.7 km wide, and rises to 159 metres.[1] It is separated from the mainland by Puffin Sound, which is only about 250 metres across. Day visits to the island from Valentia can be arranged.[2]
Nature conservation
Puffin Island holds important populations of several seabird species, including Atlantic puffins, Manx shearwaters and European storm-petrels, and was acquired as a nature reserve by the Irish Wildbird Conservancy (now BirdWatch Ireland) in the early 1980s.[2]
History
The island also has some signs of ancient human habitation, and it has attracted the interest of archaeologists.
References
- "Puffin Island". MountainViews. Ordnance Survey Ireland. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
- BirdWatch Ireland. "Puffin Island, Co. Kerry". Retrieved 2020-01-06.
Photo gallery
- Puffin Island from mainland
- Puffin Island and, in the distance to its left, Valentia Island
External links
- Nature and Wildlife of Puffin Island on www.discoverireland.ie