Machair 514196 220200955 2008-06-18T19:11:55Z Gaius Cornelius 293907 Tidy using [[Project:AutoWikiBrowser|AWB]] ''This article is about a geographic landform. For the TV series, see [[Machair (TV series)]]'' [[Image:Berneray Machair (hazelisles).jpg|thumb|The machair on [[Berneray, North Uist|Berneray]], [[Outer Hebrides]]]] The [[Gaelic language|Gaelic]] word '''machair''' or '''machar''' refers to a fertile low-lying grassy [[plain]] found on the some of the north-west [[coastline]]s of [[Ireland]] and [[Scotland]], in particular the [[Outer Hebrides]]. Two distinct types exist: * A type of [[Dune|sand-dune]] [[pasture]], subject to [[agricultural]] cultivation, which prevails in wet and windy conditions; * The land between a [[beach]] and the area where sand encroaches on [[Bog|peat bog]]s further inland. [[Image:Berneray Machair.jpg|thumb|The machair on Berneray]] =Geology= In both cases, a machair is a former [[beach]], left higher in elevation than the current adjacent beach following a drop in [[sea level]]. Machairs largely owe their fertility to the fact their sand has a high [[animal shell|seashell]] content- sometimes as high as 90%. This sand is blown inland, adding to the fertility of the grassland. =Ecology= Machairs have received considerable [[ecological]] and [[conservation biology|conservational]] attention, chiefly because of their unique [[ecosystem]]s. They can house [[rare species|rare]] [[carpet flower]]s, such as [[Spiranthes|Irish Lady's Tresses]], [[Orchidaceae|orchids]] and [[Yellow Rattle]],<ref>[http://www.wildlifehebrides.com/environment/machair/ Machair Profile]</ref> along with a diverse array of bird species including the [[corn crake]], [[twite]], [[dunlin]], [[redshank]] and [[ringed plover]], as well as rare insects such as the [[northern colletes]] bee. Some machairs are threatened by [[erosion]] caused by rising sea levels as well as by recreational use of vicinity beaches. =References= <cite id=Angus1997>* Angus, S. (1997). ''The Outer Hebrides: the Shaping of the Islands". The White Horse Press. ISBN 1-874267-33-2</cite> ==Endnotes== {{reflist}} <!--Categories--> [[Category:Beaches of Scotland]] [[Category:Beaches of Ireland]] [[Category:Coastal geography]] [[Category:Ecology of the British Isles]] {{topography-stub}} <!--Other languages--> [[de:Machair]] [[es:Machair]] [[fr:Machair]] [[gd:Machair]]