Uist

Uist, two islands of the Outer Hebrides, Inverness-shire, Scotland. North Uist lies 2-1/2 miles N. of Benbecula, and 8 miles S.W. of Harris, and is of irregular shape, being 17 miles long, by 8 miles to 3 miles broad, with an area of 118 square miles. To the E. its surface is marshy and barren, broken by several lakes, but to the W. it rises to the height of Ben Croghan, 1,500 feet, and here occur several valleys, were oats, barley, and potatoes are grown. Fishing and sheep-breeding, with the gathering of sea-weed, are the chief industries. South Uist lies one-mile S. of Benbecula, and resembles the other island in all respects, except that its highest point, Mount Hecla, attains nearly 3,000 feet. Its area is 127 square miles.