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Ailsa Craig
Ailsa Craig (/ˈeɪlsə/; Scottish Gaelic: Creag Ealasaid) is an island of 99 ha (240 acres) in the outer Firth of Clyde, 16 km (8+1⁄2 nmi) west of mainland Scotland, upon which microgranite has long been quarried to make curling stones. The now-uninhabited island comprises the remains of a magmatic pluton formed during the same period of igneous activity as magmatic rocks on the nearby Isle of Arran.
The island, colloquially known as "Paddy's Milestone" because it is halfway between Belfast and Glasgow, was a haven for Catholics during the Scottish Reformation in the 16th century, but is today a bird sanctuary, providing a home for huge numbers of gannets and an increasing number of puffins.
The name Ailsa comes from the Gaelic Allasa(n), earlier Aldasain, which is of obscure origin. It has been suggested that it represents a contraction of allt Shasann, meaning "cliff of the Saxons" (cf. airer Saxan, "coastland of the Saxon", a name applied to southwestern Scotland in an early Gaelic text). The "Saxons" in question would be the Northumbrians, whose territory at one time extended as far north as the Forth and Clyde.
The island is known in modern Gaelic as Creag Ealasaid (Elizabeth's rock) or Ealasaid a' Chuain (Elizabeth of the ocean); these, however, represent folk etymological alterations of Allasa, the "true name" of the island, which remained in use in Arran, the nearest Gaelic-speaking district, into the 20th century. The same applies to Carraig Alastair (Alexander's rock), an Irish name for Ailsa Craig.
The island is sometimes known as "Paddy's Milestone", being approximately the halfway point of the sea journey from Belfast to Glasgow, a traditional route of emigration for many Irish labourers going to Scotland to seek work. The Bass Rock is sometimes nicknamed "the Ailsa Craig of the East", although its prominence in the Firth of Forth is not as great as that of Ailsa Craig in the Firth of Clyde.
A number of features and places on the island have acquired names, Gaelic in most cases, such as Craigna'an (cliff of birds); Trammins (place of Elder trees); Balvar (big round cliff); Garryloo (rough hill) and Ashydoo (black hill). The Swine Cave may take its name from a time when the Earl of Cassillis received part of his rent in hogs from the island.
The island is approximately 16 km (8+1⁄2 nmi) west of Girvan; it is 4 km (2+1⁄2 mi) in circumference and rises to a height of 340 m (1,120 ft). The island is part of the administrative district of South Ayrshire, in the ancient parish of Dailly.
Geologically, Ailsa Craig comprises the remains of a Palaeogene pluton. Its prominence is due to the microgranite's hardness, making it more resistant to erosion than the surrounding Permian and Triassic sedimentary rocks into which it was intruded. The microgranite is itself intruded by a series of olivine dolerite dykes. Ailsa Craig, along with neighbouring Arran, is part of the North Atlantic Igneous Province, a widespread system of magmatic rocks formed during the initial stages of the opening of the North Atlantic Ocean. Boulders of distinctive Ailsa Craig microgranite known as erratics were transported by glaciers as far afield as County Donegal and Pembrokeshire.
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Ailsa Craig AI simulator
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Ailsa Craig
Ailsa Craig (/ˈeɪlsə/; Scottish Gaelic: Creag Ealasaid) is an island of 99 ha (240 acres) in the outer Firth of Clyde, 16 km (8+1⁄2 nmi) west of mainland Scotland, upon which microgranite has long been quarried to make curling stones. The now-uninhabited island comprises the remains of a magmatic pluton formed during the same period of igneous activity as magmatic rocks on the nearby Isle of Arran.
The island, colloquially known as "Paddy's Milestone" because it is halfway between Belfast and Glasgow, was a haven for Catholics during the Scottish Reformation in the 16th century, but is today a bird sanctuary, providing a home for huge numbers of gannets and an increasing number of puffins.
The name Ailsa comes from the Gaelic Allasa(n), earlier Aldasain, which is of obscure origin. It has been suggested that it represents a contraction of allt Shasann, meaning "cliff of the Saxons" (cf. airer Saxan, "coastland of the Saxon", a name applied to southwestern Scotland in an early Gaelic text). The "Saxons" in question would be the Northumbrians, whose territory at one time extended as far north as the Forth and Clyde.
The island is known in modern Gaelic as Creag Ealasaid (Elizabeth's rock) or Ealasaid a' Chuain (Elizabeth of the ocean); these, however, represent folk etymological alterations of Allasa, the "true name" of the island, which remained in use in Arran, the nearest Gaelic-speaking district, into the 20th century. The same applies to Carraig Alastair (Alexander's rock), an Irish name for Ailsa Craig.
The island is sometimes known as "Paddy's Milestone", being approximately the halfway point of the sea journey from Belfast to Glasgow, a traditional route of emigration for many Irish labourers going to Scotland to seek work. The Bass Rock is sometimes nicknamed "the Ailsa Craig of the East", although its prominence in the Firth of Forth is not as great as that of Ailsa Craig in the Firth of Clyde.
A number of features and places on the island have acquired names, Gaelic in most cases, such as Craigna'an (cliff of birds); Trammins (place of Elder trees); Balvar (big round cliff); Garryloo (rough hill) and Ashydoo (black hill). The Swine Cave may take its name from a time when the Earl of Cassillis received part of his rent in hogs from the island.
The island is approximately 16 km (8+1⁄2 nmi) west of Girvan; it is 4 km (2+1⁄2 mi) in circumference and rises to a height of 340 m (1,120 ft). The island is part of the administrative district of South Ayrshire, in the ancient parish of Dailly.
Geologically, Ailsa Craig comprises the remains of a Palaeogene pluton. Its prominence is due to the microgranite's hardness, making it more resistant to erosion than the surrounding Permian and Triassic sedimentary rocks into which it was intruded. The microgranite is itself intruded by a series of olivine dolerite dykes. Ailsa Craig, along with neighbouring Arran, is part of the North Atlantic Igneous Province, a widespread system of magmatic rocks formed during the initial stages of the opening of the North Atlantic Ocean. Boulders of distinctive Ailsa Craig microgranite known as erratics were transported by glaciers as far afield as County Donegal and Pembrokeshire.