St Kilda is a group of islands more than 40 miles west of Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides.
People lived on the main island of Hirta for thousands of years but the residents were finally evacuated at their own request in 1930.
St Kilda has been owned by the National Trust for Scotland for 50 years. In 1986 was inscribed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site for its exceptional natural beauty and the habitats for its native seabird colonies.
In July 2004 its status as a World Heritage Site was extended to include the surrounding marine environment and it is one of the few places in the world recognised for its dual natural and cultural significance.
Scotland's Environment Minister Michael Russell visited St Kilda in 2007 soon after his appointment and made a film recording is personal impressions of the islands.