St Kilda is an isolated archipelago 64 kilometres (40 mi) west-northwest of
North Uist in the North Atlantic Ocean. It contains the westernmost islands
of the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The largest island is Hirta, whose sea
cliffs are the highest in the United Kingdom. The Gaelic-speaking population
probably never exceeded 180 and was never more than 100 after 1851. Although
St Kilda was permanently inhabited for at least two millennia, and despite
the inhabitants' unique way of life, the entire population was evacuated in
1930. The only residents are now military personnel. The islands are
administratively a part of the Comhairle nan Eilean Siar local authority
area. The islands' human heritage includes numerous unique architectural
features from the historic and prehistoric periods, although the earliest
written records of island life date from the Late Middle Ages. The medieval
village on Hirta was rebuilt in the 19th century, but the influences of
religion, tourism and the First World War contributed to the island's
evacuation in 1930. The story of St Kilda has attracted artistic
interpretations, including a recent opera. The entire archipelago is owned
by the National Trust for Scotland. It became one of Scotland's four World
Heritage Sites in 1986 and is one of the few in the world to hold joint
status for its natural, marine and cultural qualities.
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*Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Kilda,_Scotland
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1409:
The University of Leipzig in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany, one of the oldest
universities in Europe, was established.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Leipzig)
1805:
Napoleonic Wars: French forces led by Emperor Napoleon I decisively defeated
a Russo-Austrian army commanded by Czar Alexander I in the Battle of
Austerlitz.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Austerlitz)
1908:
Two-year-old Puyi became Emperor of China, the last one before the Republic
of China was declared in 1912.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puyi)
1956:
Cuban Revolution: The yacht Granma, carrying Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and
80 other members of the 26th of July Movement, reached the shores of Cuba.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granma_(yacht)<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki…
)
1975:
The Pathet Lao overthrew the royalist government in Vientiane, forcing King
Savang Vatthana to abdicate, and established the Lao People's Democratic
Republic.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laos)
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Wiktionary's word of the day:
carry the message to Garcia (v) To perform a requisite task despite
obstacles.
(
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/carry_the_message_to_Garcia)
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Wikiquote quote of the day:
December will be magic again.
Don't miss the brightest star.
Kiss under mistletoe.
I want to hear you laugh.
Don't let the mystery go now.
--Kate Bush
(
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Kate_Bush)