Inner Sound, Scotland

The Inner Sound includes the deepest section of the UK's territorial waters, with a maximum depth of {{convert|324|m|ft|abbr=off}}.{{Cite journal| doi = 10.1080/00369224908735399| title = Deep clefts in the inner sound of Raasay| journal = Scottish Geographical Magazine| volume = 65| pages = 20–25| year = 1949| last1 = Robinson | first1 = A. H. W.}} An area, over {{convert|1+1/2|mi|km|abbr=on}} long and up to {{convert|1/4|mi|m|abbr=on}} wide, exists below a depth of {{convert|960|ft|m|abbr=on}}, with a relatively flat bottom. There is another cleft {{convert|828|ft|m|abbr=on}} deep, separated from the deeper bowl by an area of shallower water. A dive to examine the deeper trench found the bottom to be made up of bioturbated mud, with a steep slope towards the west of up to 60°.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gZthUHNeLLQC&pg=PA263 |title=Submersibles and Their Use in Oceanography and Ocean Engineering |first=R.A. |last=Geyer |publisher=Elsevier |year=2011 |isbn=9780080870533 |page=263}}

• South Rona
• Raasay
• Scalpay
• Pabay
• Longay
• Crowlin

In 2020, over a hundred eggs belonging to the critically endangered flapper skate were discovered in the strait. This led to calls for the government to protect the area from trawling and dredging.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-23|title=Critically endangered skate eggs discovered in the Inner Sound|url=https://www.whfp.com/2020/10/23/critically-endangered-skate-eggs-discovered-in-the-inner-sound/|access-date=2021-08-15|website=West Highland Free Press - www.whfp.com|language=en-US}} In 2021, a new Marine Protected Area in the strait for flapper skate was announced. It was Marine Scotland's second designation of an urgent Marine Protected Area using the powers contained within the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010. The urgent marine conservation order came into force on 17 March 2021 and prohibits access to the area for a number of marine activities, including fishing, diving and construction, for an initial period of twelve months.{{Cite web|title=Safeguarding flapper skate|url=http://www.gov.scot/news/safeguarding-flapper-skate/|access-date=2021-08-15|website=www.gov.scot|language=en}}

Between 1999 and 2004 a large scale archaeological project was undertaken in the strait, Scotland's First Settlers. This was a survey project to locate and examine sites relating to the Mesolithic period. The entire coastline of the Inner Sound together with its islands was walked by volunteers and archaeologists. In 2002, a separate project, the Sea Loch Survey was run by the same archaeologists to survey the sea lochs of Carron and Torridon. Between both projects they found 129 new archaeological sites. These sites were recorded and out them 36 sites were shovel pitted and 44 test pitted. One major excavation also took place at Sand which was a shell midden dating to the early-mid seventh millennium BC.{{Cite web|title=Vol 31 (2009): Mesolithic and later sites around the Inner Sound, Scotland the work of the Scotland's First Settlers project 1998-2004{{!}} Scottish Archaeological Internet Reports|url=http://journals.socantscot.org/index.php/sair/issue/view/52|access-date=2021-08-15|website=journals.socantscot.org|language=en-US}}

File:An Cruinn-Leum, Applecross - geograph.org.uk - 134765.jpg|An Cruinn-Leum, Applecross

File:Inner Sound, Scotland (40354294).jpg|Inner Sound, Scotland

File:View across Inner Sound from Applecross - geograph.org.uk - 50416.jpg|View across Inner Sound from Applecross

File:The Beach at Sand - geograph.org.uk - 814652.jpg|The Beach at Sand

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{{Commons category|Inner Sound, Scotland}}

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Category:Landforms of the Inner Hebrides

Category:Landforms of the Isle of Skye

Category:Ross and Cromarty

Category:Skye and Lochalsh

Category:Sounds of Scotland

Category:Landforms of Highland (council area)

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