Lewis' main settlement, the only burgh on the Outer Hebrides, is Stornoway (Steòrnabhagh), from which ferries sail to Ullapool on the Scottish mainland. In the 2001 census Lewis had a usually resident population of 16,872. In Scotland's former counties, Lewis was part of Ross-shire (Ross and Cromarty). Historically the Island has been a stronghold for the preservation of the Scottish Gaelic language. In recent years however, there has been an upsurge in English speakers migrating into the island, but also being brought up in Lewis. Approximately 99% of the islands population do indeed speak English, with approximately 60% having some understanding of Gaelic. The island's accent and patter is a direct result of hybridisation incorporating the 2 languages. The Lewis accent is indeed not typical of a Scottish accent. Indeed, when native Gaelic speakers speak English, they are often mistaken for being Irish, Welsh and even American by anyone not familiar with the Highland/Gael twang.
The island's settlements are on or near the coasts or sea lochs, being particularly concentrated on the north east coast. The interior of the island is a large area of moorland from which peat was traditionally cut as fuel, although this practice has become rarer. The southern part of the island, adjoining Harris, is more mountainous with inland lochs. The island of Bernera (Great Bernera) in the district of Uig is linked to the mainland of Lewis by a bridge opened in 1953.
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