Where Curling Stones Come From

The New York Times ran a slideshow about Ailsa Craig, an uninhabited 220-acre island off the Scottish coast.

It has no inhabitants, no electricity, no fresh water and no arable land — nothing of value, it would seem, but for this: For a century and more, its quarries have been the source of the distinctive, water-resistant microgranite used to make most of the world’s curling stones. These include all those used in recent world championships and the Olympics, including the Sochi Games that begin in February.

You can view the photo slideshow here…and if you’re interested (and have an extra $2.4 million lying around) you can buy this abandoned volcanic island!