Gwlff Ffynid (ɡuːlf fənɪd)
The Gwylff Ffynid is the body of water between the islands of Ynys and Oileán Fiáin. It has several alternate names, depending on who you ask - this is the name most common on Ynys and is from the Ynyswr language. In Amhrán it is known as Muir Oileán and the Kingdom of Vann calls it the Mooir Vannin.
There are many islands in the Gwylff Ffynid, and they have been traditionally split into two groupings. Those north of the island of Vannin are considered a part of the Eileanan an Iar group which extends along the west coast of Ynys. Vannin, and those islands south of it, are considered to be their own grouping and are the islands of the Gwylff Ffynid. The largest islands in this group are Ynys Dywyll off the coast of Mathrafal and Vannin, which is in the rough center of Gwylff Ffynid.
Geography
The Gwlff Ffynid is a large expanse, extending about 130 miles from north to south and over 200 miles at its widest point. It has an average depth of 580 feet, with some areas reaching to 900 feet or more. The north and south entrances are significantly narrower, with the southern entrance being only 70 miles wide. The northern entrance is the Skìth Channel; it is larger, but the island of Eilean Skìth divides it into two narrower channels.
There are many islands in the Gwlff Ffynid, but most are small and uninhabited. Below is a list of the inhabited islands in the Gwlff Ffynid island group, sorted by area. This does not include the islands considered a part of the Eileanan an Iar group.
The Inhabited Islands of the Gwlf Ffynid (Sorted by Size)
| Island Name | Area (sq mi) |
|---|---|
| Ynys Dywyll | 275.7 |
| Vannin | 220 |
| Twr | 15.2 |
| Hougun | 5.01 |
| Reachrainn | 0.97 |
| Oileán an Tairbh | 0.9 |
| Ynys Enlli | 0.69 |
| Fouldrey | 0.4 |
| Ynys Goch | 0.18 |
| Barrae | 0.15 |
| Rowa | 0.11 |
| Gaint | 0.05 |
| Badrig | 0.006 |
Ecosystem
The Gwylff Ffynid is rich with wildlife, both in the waters and along the shores. Shrimp, cockles, scallops, and mussels are all common, as are many species of fish and cetacean. The area around the island of Vannin is particularly known for its giant eels, which are a national delicacy in the Kingdom of Vann. There are seal colonies that reside and breed throughout the region, many kinds of seabird, and leatherback turtles migrate through the area annually.
Maps
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Gwlff Ffynid
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This article was originally written for Spooktober 2024. You can find all of my Spooktober Articles at Spooktober Central.
This article was originally written for Spooktober 2023. You can find all of my Spooktober Articles at Spooktober Central.
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