Lewis Peatlands
LocationLewis, Scotland
Coordinates58°15′00″N 6°35′00″W / 58.25°N 6.5833°W / 58.25; -6.5833
Area589 km2 (227 sq mi)[1]
Established2000
Governing bodyScottish Natural Heritage (SNH)

Lewis Peatlands (Scottish Gaelic: mòinteach Leòdhais) is a large area of blanket bog covering more than one third of the Isle of Lewis, off the west coast of Scotland. With a total area of 58,984 hectares, it is one of the largest and most intact known areas of blanket bog in the world,[2] and is the second largest Ramsar site in Scotland.[3]

The site contains a near-continuous mantle of blanket bog, with oligotrophic and mesotrophic small pools and lochans. It supports a diverse range of breeding waterfowl, including internationally important numbers of dunlin (up to 30% of the world population), and nationally important populations of numerous other species including the black-throated diver, golden eagle and golden plover.[2]

Lewis Peatlands has been recognised as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention,[3] and has been designated a Special Protection Area.[1] A little under half of the area has also been designated as a Special Area of Conservation.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 "Lewis Peatlands SPA". Scottish Natural Heritage. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  2. 1 2 "UK Lewis Peatlands 13028 RIS 2006" (PDF). Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Lewis Peatlands". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
  4. ↑ "Lewis Peatlands SAC". Scottish Natural Heritage. Retrieved 13 March 2019.


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