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Archipelago

    Staffa

    Stafa, Stafey

    56°26′N 6°20′W

    Staffa is an island of the Inner Hebrides in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The Vikings gave it the name because its columnar basalt reminded them of their houses, which were constructed using vertical logs.

    Iona and Staffa Ferries and Boats Inner Hebrides
    Iona and Staffa Ferries and Boats Inner Hebrides

    dun_deagh / CC BY-SA 2.0

    Terrain

    56°26′N 6°20′W

    Terrain exaggerated for relief. Drag to look around.

    Overview

    Staffa is an island of the Inner Hebrides in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The Vikings gave it the name because its columnar basalt reminded them of their houses, which were constructed using vertical logs. Staffa lies about 10 kilometres (6 miles) west of the Isle of Mull. It is 33 hectares (82 acres) in area and the highest point is 42 metres (138 feet) above sea level. The island came to prominence in the late 18th century after a visit by Sir Joseph Banks. He and his fellow-travellers extolled the natural beauty of the basalt columns and of the island's main sea cavern, which Banks renamed "Fingal's Cave". Their visit was followed by those of many other prominent people during the next two centuries, including John Keats, Queen Victoria and Felix Mendelssohn. The latter's Hebrides Overture brought further fame to the island, which was by then uninhabited. It is now in the care of the National Trust for Scotland.

    From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Chart

    Nearest islands

    Also in Inner Hebrides

    • Isle of Skye

      1,636 km²▲ 992 m

      Major islands

    • Isle of Mull

      885 km²▲ 966 m

      Major islands

    • Islay

      618 km²▲ 491 m

      Major islands

    • Jura

      365 km²▲ 785 m

      Major islands

    • Rùm

      107 km²▲ 812 m

      Minor islands

    • Tiree

      79 km²▲ 140 m

      Minor islands

    • Coll

      74.3 km²▲ 103 m

      Minor islands

    • Raasay

      62.4 km²▲ 494 m

      Minor islands

    Also in Hebrides

    Also in British Isles

    Sources

    Facts

    • Geometry, areas and high points: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Copernicus GLO-30, via Talus.
    • Talus
    • Wikidata
    • Wikipedia

    Photographs