Skerries

Skerries are small, rocky islands or reefs that project from a coastline. In nautical and geographical usage, the term refers to rock outcrops that are typically too small to sustain permanent habitation but are exposed to sea spray and wave action. The plural form is skerries; the singular is skerry.

Etymology: The word derives from Old Norse skær, skerry, meaning a rock or rock island, with cognates in Scandinavian languages. The term entered English to describe sea stacks and is especially common around northern coastal areas.

Formation and characteristics: Skerries usually consist of hard bedrock left standing after coastal erosion. Many arise in areas with glaciation and post-glacial sea-level rise. They occur in groups or fields within archipelagos and may be near shoals or sands; some are linked to the mainland by tombolos or lie near river mouths. Their exposure to wind and salt limits soil development, often resulting in barren, windswept surfaces.

Ecology and use: Skerries commonly serve as breeding sites for seabirds and support sparse vegetation in crevices. They are navigational hazards and frequently bear lighthouses, beacons, or signal stations. Most are uninhabited, though some are used seasonally for fishing, research, or tourism, and nearby coastlines may host modest settlements.

Distribution and examples: Skerries are widespread around northern Europe, particularly along the coasts of Scotland, Ireland, and Scandinavia, as well as in the Baltic Sea and around Iceland and the Faroe Islands. In Ireland, the town of Skerries, County Dublin, derives its name from nearby skerries off the coast.