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Rockall () is an uninhabited remote granite islet of the United Kingdom in the North Atlantic Ocean situated at the following rough distances from the closest large islands: 430 km (270 miles) north-west of Ireland, 460 km (290 miles) west of Great Britain and 700 km (440 miles) south of Iceland. It is within the United Kingdom's exclusive economic zone,〔〔(Written Answers – Rockall Island ). debates.oireachtas.ie. 24 March 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2014.〕 and in 1973 became part of the ''Na h-Eileanan Siar'' council area (which comprises the Outer Hebrides), however is designated as belonging to no specific electoral ward. The nearest permanently inhabited place is North Uist, an island in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, 370 km (230 miles) to the east. Since the late 16th century, the 17.15-metre-high (56.27 ft) rock has been noted in written records,〔(The Rockall Club website's Facts page ). Retrieved 12 October 2014.〕〔(bbc.co.uk ). 8 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.〕〔(Stornoway Gazette ). 8 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.〕 although it is likely that some northern Atlantic fishermen knew of the rock before these historical accounts were made. In the 20th century, the location of the islet became a major interest due to the potential oil and fishing rights, spurring continued debate amongst several European nations. Lord Kennet said of it in 1971, "There can be no place more desolate, despairing and awful."〔(The Independent ~ 12 June 1997 )〕 It gives its name to one of the sea areas named in the shipping forecast provided by the British Meteorological Office. Rockall has been a point of interest for adventurers and amateur radio operators who have variously landed on or briefly occupied the islet. Fewer than 20 individuals have ever been confirmed to have landed on Rockall, and the longest continuous stay by an individual is currently 45 days. In a House of Commons debate in 1971, William Ross, MP for Kilmarnock, said: "More people have landed on the moon than have landed on Rockall."〔 In 1956 the British scientist James Fisher referred to the island as "the most isolated small rock in the oceans of the world".〔 〕 The neighbouring Hasselwood Rock and several other pinnacles of the surrounding Helen's Reef are smaller, at half the size of Rockall or less, and equally remote, but those formations are legally not islands or points on land, as they are often submerged completely, only revealed momentarily above certain types of ocean surface waves. The United Kingdom claimed Rockall in 1955 and had previously claimed an extended exclusive economic zone based on it. This claim to an extended zone was dropped upon ratifying UNCLOS in 1997, since rocks or islets such as Rockall that cannot sustain human habitation or economic life are not entitled to an exclusive economic zone under the Convention.〔 However, such features are entitled to a territorial sea extending 12 nautical miles. The UK's claim to territorial waters around Rockall was previously disputed by Ireland on the basis of uncertain ownership of the rock.〔(Clive Symmons "Ireland and the Rockall Dispute: An Analysis of Recent Developments" Durham University )〕 With effect from 31 March 2014, the UK and Ireland published EEZ limits which resolved any disputes over the ownership of the islet.〔("The Exclusive Economic Zone Order 2013" ) http://www.legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2014.〕〔("Maritime Jurisdiction (Boundaries of Exclusive Economic Zone) Order 2014" ) http://www.irishstatutebook.ie. Retrieved 20 July 2014.〕 In response to a Freedom of Information Act request, the British Government has said, "The islet of Rockall is part of the UK: specifically it forms part of Scotland under the Island of Rockall Act 1972. No other state has disputed our claim to the islet."〔(FOI response by HM Government 8 March 2012 )〕 == Etymology == The origin and meaning of the name "Rockall" are uncertain. The Old Norse name for the islet, ''Ròcal'', may contain the element ''fjall'', meaning "mountain".〔 p. 101〕 It has also been suggested that the name is from the Norse '' *rok'', meaning "foaming sea", and ''kollr'', meaning "bald head"—a word which appears in other placenames in Scandinavian-speaking areas.〔Coates (1990) pp. 49–54, esp. 51-2.〕 Another idea is that it derives from the Gaelic ''Sgeir Rocail'', meaning "skerry of roaring" or "sea rock of roaring"〔Keay and Keay (1994) p. 817.〕 (although ''rocail'' can also be translated as "tearing" or "ripping").〔("Sgeir" ) ceantar.org. Retrieved 18 January 2008.〕〔("Rocail" ) ceantar.org. Retrieved 18 January 2008.〕 Dutch mapmakers P. Plancius and C. Claesz show an island called "Rookol" northwest of Ireland on their ''Map of New France and the Northern Atlantic Ocean'' (Amsterdam, c. 1594). The first literary reference to the island, where it is called "Rokol", is found in Martin Martin's ''A Description of the Western Isles of Scotland'' published in 1703. This book gives an account of a voyage to the archipelago of St. Kilda, and Martin states: "... and from it lies Rokol, a small rock sixty leagues to the westward of St. Kilda; the inhabitants of this place call it ''Rokabarra''."〔 〕 The name ''Rocabarraigh'' is also used in Scottish Gaelic folklore for a mythical rock which is supposed to appear three times, its last appearance being at the end of the world: "''Nuair a thig Rocabarra ris, is dual gun tèid an Saoghal a sgrios''." (When Rocabarra returns, the world will likely come to be destroyed.)〔 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「Rockall」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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