Jura is part of a chain of islands off the coast of Scotland called the Inner Hebrides. Islay, Mull, Skye and Coll are among the others. It is not to be confused with Jura Canada. A collection of islands such as the Hebrides is known as an archipelago. Together with another Scottish island chain, the Outer Hebrides, the Inner Hebrides is part of the Hebrides, which experiences a mild oceanic climate.
The most heavily populated islands in the inner chain of islands is Skye, which is home to nearly 10,000 people. Mull and Islay have much lower populations of only 2,800 and 3,228 people, respectively. The smallest of the Inner Hebridian islands is Rum, with a population of 22. There are two more islands, Tiree (pop. 653) and Eigg (pop. 83). The coastline is mainly fertile, low-lying pasture land known as machair.
The main commercial interests of the Inner Hebrides include whisky distilling, tourism, crofting and fishing. Crofting refers to farming a small area of land. The main whisky distilling islands are Islay, Skye, Mull and Jura. These islands are heavily dependent on micro-businesses and self-employment.
Lewis and Harris, considered a single island but actually two separate land masses connected by a tiny isthmus, has the most people. As of the 2010 census, there were almost 21,000 people living on the two islands. The four next-biggest islands in terms of population are North and South Uist, Barraigh and Barbencula. There are a total of 15 islands in the Outer Hebrides. Harris is very mountainous, but also contains some lovely sandy beaches.
People in the Outer Hebrides make their living the same way as those on the inner islands, with the addition of weaving. The world-famous fabric, Harris tweed, is made here. Every aspect from start to finish, carding, dying, weaving, blending, warping, finishing and inspecting are all done on the islands.
There is a mountain chain called the Juras, but these are situated in Switzerland and France, with some parts extending into Germany. Interestingly, the name is derived from the Celtic word for forest. These mountains are an example of a sub-alpine range, meaning the biotic zone at an immediately lower altitude than the tree line. In Scotland, the tree line is only 1,500 feet. The types of fauna and flora that exist in sub-alpine zones differ depending on their position on the planet.
In Southeast Asia, however, the tree line is as high as 4,000 metres, or 15,000 feet. The Sumatran Montane Rainforests are home to some fascinating plant and animal species. Among the flora here are the parasitic flower, Rafflesia arnoldii, which boasts blossoms up to 1 metre wide. These are considered to be the largest flowers in the world. Amorphophallus titanum grows on two metre-tall stalks.
Three of Southeast Asia's most endangered species of animal come from the Sumatran rainforest. These include the Sumatran rhinoceros, rabbit and tiger. The biodiversity of the rainforest is explained by its geologic history. Up until 150 million years ago, Sumatra was part of Gondwanaland, one of three supercontinents. After Sumatra, along with Borne and Sulawesi, split from Gondwanaland, the mass of land drifted toward the north, until it banged into India some 70 million years ago and formed the Himalayan mountain range.
The most heavily populated islands in the inner chain of islands is Skye, which is home to nearly 10,000 people. Mull and Islay have much lower populations of only 2,800 and 3,228 people, respectively. The smallest of the Inner Hebridian islands is Rum, with a population of 22. There are two more islands, Tiree (pop. 653) and Eigg (pop. 83). The coastline is mainly fertile, low-lying pasture land known as machair.
The main commercial interests of the Inner Hebrides include whisky distilling, tourism, crofting and fishing. Crofting refers to farming a small area of land. The main whisky distilling islands are Islay, Skye, Mull and Jura. These islands are heavily dependent on micro-businesses and self-employment.
Lewis and Harris, considered a single island but actually two separate land masses connected by a tiny isthmus, has the most people. As of the 2010 census, there were almost 21,000 people living on the two islands. The four next-biggest islands in terms of population are North and South Uist, Barraigh and Barbencula. There are a total of 15 islands in the Outer Hebrides. Harris is very mountainous, but also contains some lovely sandy beaches.
People in the Outer Hebrides make their living the same way as those on the inner islands, with the addition of weaving. The world-famous fabric, Harris tweed, is made here. Every aspect from start to finish, carding, dying, weaving, blending, warping, finishing and inspecting are all done on the islands.
There is a mountain chain called the Juras, but these are situated in Switzerland and France, with some parts extending into Germany. Interestingly, the name is derived from the Celtic word for forest. These mountains are an example of a sub-alpine range, meaning the biotic zone at an immediately lower altitude than the tree line. In Scotland, the tree line is only 1,500 feet. The types of fauna and flora that exist in sub-alpine zones differ depending on their position on the planet.
In Southeast Asia, however, the tree line is as high as 4,000 metres, or 15,000 feet. The Sumatran Montane Rainforests are home to some fascinating plant and animal species. Among the flora here are the parasitic flower, Rafflesia arnoldii, which boasts blossoms up to 1 metre wide. These are considered to be the largest flowers in the world. Amorphophallus titanum grows on two metre-tall stalks.
Three of Southeast Asia's most endangered species of animal come from the Sumatran rainforest. These include the Sumatran rhinoceros, rabbit and tiger. The biodiversity of the rainforest is explained by its geologic history. Up until 150 million years ago, Sumatra was part of Gondwanaland, one of three supercontinents. After Sumatra, along with Borne and Sulawesi, split from Gondwanaland, the mass of land drifted toward the north, until it banged into India some 70 million years ago and formed the Himalayan mountain range.
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