The Minch 1686860 224341852 2008-07-08T12:45:12Z Arnobarnard 4508986 af language link [[Image:Hebridesmap.png|thumb|300px|Map of the Hebrides, showing the Minch]] [[Image:Little Minch.jpg|right|thumb|The Little Minch, view towards Loch na Madadh]] '''The Minch''' ([[Scottish Gaelic]] '''An Cuan Sgith, Cuan na Hearadh, An Cuan Leòdhasach'''), also called '''The North Minch''', is a [[strait]] in north-west [[Scotland]], separating the north-west [[Scottish Highlands|Highlands]], and the northern [[Inner Hebrides]], from [[Lewis]] and [[Harris]] in the [[Outer Hebrides]]. It was known as "Skotlandsfjörð" ("Scotland's [[fjord]]/firth") in [[Old Norse]].<ref>Anderson, Joseph (Ed.) (1893) ''Orkneyinga Saga''. Translated by Jón A. Hjaltalin & Gilbert Goudie. Edinburgh. James Thin and Mercat Press (1990 reprint). ISBN 0-901824-25-9</ref> '''The Lower Minch''' ('''an Cuan Canach'''), also called '''The Little Minch''', is to the south and separates [[Isle of Skye|Skye]] from the lower Outer Hebrides: [[North Uist]], [[Benbecula]], [[South Uist]], [[Barra]] etc. It opens into the [[Sea of the Hebrides]]. The combination of the Minch, the Sea of the Hebrides, and a stretch reaching [[Ireland]] constitutes the [[Inner Seas]] of the West coast of Scotland<ref>[[IHO]] Spec. Pub. S-23 (3rd ed, 1953), ''Limits of Oceans and Seas'', #18; also Draft 4th ed., 1986</ref>, also known as the [[Inner Scottish Sea]]. The Minch ranges from 20 to 45 miles (30 to 70 km) wide and is approximately 70 miles (110 km) long. It is believed to be the site of the biggest meteorite ever to hit the British Isles<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7314329.stm 'Biggest UK space impact found'], BBC News.</ref>. The Lower Minch is about 15 miles (25 km) wide. The ''[[Minch Project]]'' is a collaboration of [[Comhairle nan Eilean Siar]], the [[Highland Council]] and the [[Scottish Natural Heritage]] which aims to reduce [[pollution]], minimise [[erosion]], minimise [[litter]] and promote [[tourism]] &mdash;in particular [[wildlife tourism]] such as [[dolphin watching]]&mdash; in the Minch. Pollution is a particular concern as the Minch is a busy [[shipping lane]] &mdash;two and a half million [[tonne]]s of shipping pass through the channel each [[month]]. Commercial [[ferry]] services across the Minch are operated by [[Caledonian MacBrayne]]. ==See also== *[http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/minch/minch.htm Western Isles local government Minch project] *[http://www.geo.ed.ac.uk/scotgaz/features/featurefirst7485.html Gazeteer for Scotland] ==Notes and references== <references/> {{Lewis and Harris}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Minch}} [[Category:Scottish coast and countryside]] [[Category:Straits of the British Isles]] [[Category:Highland]] [[Category:Outer Hebrides]] [[af:Klein Minch]] [[et:The Minch]] [[es:El Minch]] [[fr:The Minch]] [[gd:An Cuan Sgitheanach]] [[ja:ミンチ海峡]] [[ru:Норт-Минч]]