Tearaght Island

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Irish English Template:Infobox islands Tearaght Island or Inishtearaght<ref name="irishlights"/> (Template:Irish place name,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> meaning 'the westerly') is an uninhabited steep rocky island west of the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry, Ireland.

Geography

At longitude 10° 39.7' Tearaght is the westernmost of the Blasket Islands, and thus the westernmost island of Ireland. It is also one of the westernmost points in Europe after Iceland,<ref>The British Isles: A Trivia Gazetteer By Paul Anthony Jones; Published by Summersdale Publishers LTD., pg. 311</ref> and Azores. However, there are some exposed rocks further west: Tearaght Rocks, Tearaght Rocks West (10° 41.0'), and Foze Rocks (10° 41.3').<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="NIMA2004">Template:Cite book</ref>

An Tiaracht is about a kilometre from east to west, and Template:Convert from north to south. The island is divided into two sections, a larger eastern part (Template:Convert high) and a western part that rises to Template:Convert. A narrow neck of rock, with a natural tunnel through it, joins the two parts.<ref>Townlands.ie - Tearaght</ref>

Nature

Like the other Blasket Islands, Tiaracht holds large numbers of seabirds, with internationally important populations of Manx shearwater and European storm-petrel. Leach's storm-petrels have also been found there (but not proved to be breeding) in recent years. The number of auks, especially puffins, has apparently fluctuated greatly, though early records are not always reliable.Template:Citation needed

Inishtearaght Lighthouse

A lighthouse was established on the island in 1870, and automated in 1988.<ref name="irishlights"/> The lighthouse, maintained by the Commissioners of Irish Lights, has a tower Template:Convert high and the focal height is at Template:Convert above sea level, it has a range of Template:Convert.<ref name="irishlights"/> The light was served by the steepest funicular rail track in Europe<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> from 1913 until automation.<ref name="irishlights"/>

Gallery

• 
  Rocks near the island
• 
  The lighthouse on the island
• 
  Channels used to funnel rainwater into tanks for storage
• 
  The lighthouse
• 
  The lighthouse at sunset in 1987
• 
  The top of a funicular railway for transporting materials from the boat landing up to the lighthouse
• 
  The lighthouse and sea arch

See also

• Lighthouses in Ireland
• Extreme points of Europe

External links

• Details of lighthouse