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The Scottish Highlands are the Mountain ous regions of Scotland north and west of the Highland Boundary Fault . It is popularly described as one of the most scenic regions of Europe. The area is generally sparsely populated, with many Mountain Ranges dominating the region. Remarkably given that it is part of the crowded island of Britain, the average population density in the Highlands and Islands is lower than that for Sweden, Norway, Papua New Guinea or Argentina. Regional administrative centres include Inverness . The Highland Council is the administrative body for around 40% of this area; the remainder is divided between the Council Areas of Aberdeenshire , Angus , Argyll And Bute , Moray , Perth And Kinross , and Stirling . Although the Isle Of Arran administratively belongs to North Ayrshire , its northern part is generally regarded as part of the Highlands. HISTORY CULTURE Culturally the area is quite different from the Scottish Lowlands . Most of the Highlands fall into the region known as the Gàidhealtachd , pronounced roughly ''Gailtahk'', which was, within the last hundred years, the Gaelic speaking area of Scotland. The terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but have slightly different meanings. Highland English is also widely spoken. Some similarities exist between the culture of the Highlands and that of , sport ( Shinty / Hurling ), and Celtic Music . Highland music, which is similar to Irish traditional music, often reflects an (historical) antipathy to the English which is less commonly seen amongst Lowland Scots. RELIGION The Reformation in the Scottish lowlands had a muted effect on the Gaelic speaking Highlands . Roman Catholicism remained strong in certain parts, also Irish francisican missionaries reguarly came to the area to perform mass as they shared a similar lanuage. HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY In traditional Scottish Geography , the Highlands refers to that part of Scotland north-west of a line drawn from Dumbarton to Stonehaven , including the Inner and Outer Hebrides , parts of Perthshire and the County Of Bute , but excluding Orkney and Shetland , Caithness , the flat coastal land of the Counties of Nairnshire , Morayshire and Banffshire , and most of East Aberdeenshire . This Highland area differed from the Lowlands by language and tradition, having preserved Gaelic speech and customs centuries after the Anglicization of the latter. The cultural distinction between Highlander and Lowlander is first noted towards the end of the 14th Century . The City of Inverness is usually regarded as the capital of the Highlands. However, there are several definitions of the Highland line, which create further confusion. Highland council area The Highland council area, created as one of the Local Government Regions Of Scotland in 1975, has been a Unitary Council area since 1996. The council area excludes a large chunk of the southern and eastern Highlands, and the Western Isles , but includes Caithness . ''Highlands'' is sometimes used, however, as a name for the council area, as in '' Highlands And Islands Fire And Rescue Service ''. '' Northern '', as in '' Northern Constabulary '', is also used to refer to the area covered by the fire and rescue service. This area consists of the Highland council area and the Island Council Areas of Orkney , Shetland and the Western Isles. Highland council signs in the Pass Of Drumochter , between Glen Garry and Dalwhinnie , saying "Welcome to the Highlands", are still regarded as controversial. Highlands and Islands Much of the Scottish Highlands area overlaps the and Shetland , as well as the Highland Local Government area, the Western Isles and most of the Argyll And Bute and Moray local government areas. ''Highlands and Islands'' has, however, different meanings in different contexts. It means Highland (the local government area), Orkney, Shetland, and the Western Isles in '' Highlands And Islands Fire And Rescue Service ''. '' Northern '', as in '' Northern Constabulary '', refers to the same area as that covered by the fire and rescue service. Highland Park Highland Park is a single malt Scotch Whisky , which is distilled in Orkney , which is not part of either the administrative area of Highland nor the Scottish Highlands. However, Orkney along with Western Isles and the Shetlands, is grouped together with the Highlands when it comes to economic development; under the umbrella of the Highlands & Islands Enterprise. GEOLOGY The Highlands consist of an old dissected Plateau , or block, of ancient Crystalline rocks with incised valleys and Loch s carved by the action of mountain streams and by ice, the resulting Topography being a wide area of irregularly distributed mountains whose summits have nearly the same height above sea-level, but whose bases depend upon the amount of Denudation to which the plateau has been subjected in various places. TOWNS AND VILLAGES
OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST
HISTORIC NAMES OF AREAS IN THE HIGHLANDS INCLUDE:
GALLERY OF IMAGES |
Image:Eilann Donan Castlejpg
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Eilean_Donan_Castle" class="copylinks">Eilean Donan Castle , at Dornie near Kyle Of Lochalsh |
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Image:Lochan Stones, Rannoch MoorjpgLochan Stones On
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Rannoch_Moor" class="copylinks">Rannoch Moor |
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Image:Loch Longjpg
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Loch_Long" class="copylinks">Loch Long |
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Image:Inverness Ness Footbridge 15760JPG
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Inverness" class="copylinks">Inverness |
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Image:Loch MareejpgThe Islands Of
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Loch_Maree" class="copylinks">Loch Maree |
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Image:Smoo Cave InteriorjpgThe Interior Of
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Smoo_Cave" class="copylinks">Smoo Cave , Sutherland |
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Image:Cape Wrath Lighthousejpg
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Cape_Wrath" class="copylinks">Cape Wrath Lighthouse in the far NW of the Highlands |
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Image:Glenfinnan Viaduct From BelowjpgThe
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/encyclopedia/entry/Glenfinnan_Viaduct" class="copylinks">Glenfinnan Viaduct from below |
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