Skye
largest and most northerly large island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Skye is the largest and most northerly island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland.[1] More than 9000 people live there, and half of the people speak Gaelic. The main settlement is Portree, known for its picturesque harbour.
![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Hebridesmap.png/640px-Hebridesmap.png)
![A small harbour fronted with a row of cottages painted in white, pink, green and blue with a tree-covered hillock behind them.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4f/Skye-Portree-arjecahn.jpg/640px-Skye-Portree-arjecahn.jpg)
![A grey castle with tall square towers stands amongst trees in full leaf.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/Dunvegan_Castle3.jpg/640px-Dunvegan_Castle3.jpg)
The island has been occupied since the mesolithic period and has a colourful history. It was rule by the Norse for 400 years, then dominated by Clan MacLeod and Clan Donald. The Highland Clearances of the 19th century caused a decline in the population from over 20,000 to around 9,200 in the early 21st century. The population has risen 4% from the census of 1991.[2] The main industries are tourism, agriculture, fishing and whisky-distilling.
Skye is part of the Highland Council local government area and is now linked to the mainland by a road bridge.[3] The island is renowned for its spectacular scenery, vibrant culture and heritage, and its abundant wildlife, including the Golden Eagle, Red Deer and Atlantic Salmon.