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South Uist (Scottish Gaelic: Uibhist a' Deas) is an island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. In the 2001 census it had a usually resident population of 1,951.
The island is mostly Catholic. Its east coast is mountainous, the north east being a National Nature Reserve with birdlife including greylag geese, mute swans and hen harriers. The west is machair with a continuous sandy beach, the north west being a firing range.
Attractions on the island include the Kildonan Museum housing the sixteenth century Clanranald Stone and the ruins of the house where Flora Macdonald was born.
The main village on the island is Lochboisdale, from which ferries sail to Oban on the mainland and to Castlebay on Barra. The island is also linked to Eriskay and Benbecula by causeways. Smaller settlements include Daliburgh and Ludag.
The archaeological site of Cladh Hallan, the only site in Great Britain where prehistoric mummies have been found, is on South Uist.
Rocket launches
Wide parts of South Uist are since 1967 used as launch site for meteorological rockets, as the British Skua and the Petrel.
Flag
The flags of South Uist and Barra are very similar - they are both white Nordic Crosses on a green field.
South Uist differs from Barra in its use of a blue ‘inner’ Nordic Cross. The flag is very similar to the flag of Norway – many of the people of the Hebrides originate from the Norway of the ninth and tenth centuries.
[1] (http://www.fotw.net/flags/gb-heb.html)
[Rocket launches at South Uist (http://www.astronautix.com/sites/souhuist.htm)]
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