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The Hebrides (; Scottish Gaelic: ''Innse Gall''; Old Norse: ''Suðreyjar'') comprise a widespread and diverse archipelago off the west coast of mainland Scotland. There are two main groups: the Inner and Outer Hebrides. These islands have a long history of occupation dating back to the Mesolithic, and the culture of the residents has been affected by the successive influences of Celtic, Norse, and English-speaking peoples. This diversity is reflected in the names given to the islands, which are derived from the languages that have been spoken there in historic and perhaps prehistoric times. Various artists have been inspired by their Hebridean experiences. Today the economy of the islands is dependent on crofting, fishing, tourism, the oil industry, and renewable energy. The Hebrides lack biodiversity in comparison to mainland Britain, but seals are present around the coasts in internationally important numbers. == Geology, geography and climate == The Hebrides have a diverse geology ranging in age from Precambrian strata that are amongst the oldest rocks in Europe to Paleogene igneous intrusions.〔Rollinson, Hugh (September 1997). ("Britain's oldest rocks" ) ''Geology Today''. 13 no. 5 pp. 185-190.〕〔Gillen, Con (2003). ''Geology and landscapes of Scotland''. Harpenden. Terra Publishing. Pages 44 and 142.〕 The Hebrides can be divided into two main groups, separated from one another by the Minch to the north and the Sea of the Hebrides to the south. The Inner Hebrides lie closer to mainland Scotland and include Islay, Jura, Skye, Mull, Raasay, Staffa and the Small Isles. There are 36 inhabited islands in this group. The Outer Hebrides are a chain of more than 100 islands and small skerries located about west of mainland Scotland. There are 15 inhabited islands in this archipelago. The main islands include Barra, Benbecula, Berneray, Harris, Lewis, North Uist, South Uist, and St Kilda. In total, the islands have an area of approximately and a population of 44,759.〔General Register Office for Scotland (28 November 2003) ''(Occasional Paper No 10: Statistics for Inhabited Islands )''. (pdf) Retrieved 22 January 2011. 〕 A complication is that there are various descriptions of the scope of the Hebrides. The ''Collins Encyclopedia of Scotland'' describes the Inner Hebrides as lying "east of The Minch", which would include any and all offshore islands. There are various islands that lie in the sea lochs such as Eilean Bàn and Eilean Donan that might not ordinarily be described as "Hebridean" but no formal definitions exist.〔Keay & Keay (1994) p. 507.〕〔''Encyclopædia Britannica'' (1978) states: Hebrides - group of islands of the west coast of Scotland extending in an arc between 55.35 and 58.30 N and 5.26 and 8.40 W." This includes Gigha, St Kilda and everything up to Cape Wrath – although not North Rona.〕 In the past the Outer Hebrides were often referred to as the Long Isle ((スコットランド・ゲール語:An t-Eilean Fada)). Today, they are also known as the Western Isles although this phrase can also be used to refer to the Hebrides in general. The Hebrides have a cool temperate climate that is remarkably mild and steady for such a northerly latitude, due to the influence of the Gulf Stream. In the Outer Hebrides the average temperature for the year is 6 °C (44 °F) in January and 14 °C (57 °F) in summer. The average annual rainfall in Lewis is and sunshine hours range from 1,100 - 1,200 per annum. The summer days are relatively long and May to August is the driest period.〔Thompson (1968) pp. 24-26〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Hebrides」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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