Am Plastair
Island in St Kilda, Scotland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Am Plastair is a sea stack in the St Kilda archipelago, in the council area of the Outer Hebrides, Scotland. It is 42 metres (138 ft) tall and is situated to the north of the island of Soay. The stack has a 40-metre (131-foot) underwater tunnel that runs directly through the rock, starting at 24 metres deep on the north side and rising to just 4 metres deep on the south.[1] The stack is 42 meters (136ft) tall with an area of 0.58 ha (1.4 acres).[2]
Am Plastair seen from Soay | |
 Interactive map of Am Plastair | |
| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Atlantic Ocean |
| OS grid reference | NA059020 |
| Archipelago | St Kilda |
| Adjacent to | Soay |
| Area | 0.58 ha (1.4 acres) |
| Highest elevation | 42 m (138 ft) |
Etymology
The Gaelic name Am Plastair literally translates to "The Plaster". This may describe the physical appearance of the rock, specifically how it appears to be "plastered" against the cliffs of Soay. The name Am Plastair may also mean "the rascal" from the Scottish Gaelic peallastair.[citation needed]
History
Am Plastair was, like other stacks in the archipelago, used for harvesting seabirds and eggs.[3] These stacks were climbed by St. Kildans, who climbed alpine-style in order to collect seabird eggs and seabirds.[4]
The stack was known to have a fast tide race between this stack and Soay which "can make boating rather hazardous".[5]