Shetland Islands

The Shetland Islands (sometimes historically spelled Zetland, formerly Hjaltland) are one of 32 unitary council regions in Scotland and a Lieutenancy Area. It is a Scottish island group between the Orkney Islands and the Faroe Islands, north of mainland Britain, with a total area of approximately 1469km². The administrative centre and only burgh is Lerwick.

The Shetland Islands were originally a Norwegian colony, and were pawned to the crown of Scotland on February 20, 1472. Many people on the islands do not feel Scottish and feel even less British, feeling closer to their Scandinavian roots.

The main island of the group is known as Mainland. Other islands include:

Balta, Bigga, Bressay, Brother Isle, Burra
East Linga
Fetlar, Fish Holm, Foula
Gloup Holm, Gruney
Haaf Gruney, Hascosay, Hildasay, Huney
Lady's Holm, Lamba, Linga near Muckle Roe, Linga near Shetland Mainland, Linga near Yell, Little Roe, Lunna Holm
Moul of Eswick, Mousa, Muckle Flugga, Muckle Ossa, Muckle Roe
North Havra, Noss
Orfasay, Out Stack, Oxna
Papa, Papa Little, Papa Stour
Samphrey, Sound Gruney, South Havra, South Isle of Gletness
Trondra
Unst, Urie Lingey, Uyea, Uynarey
Vaila, Vementry
West Linga, Whalsay
Yell

The Fair Isle lies approximately halfway between Shetland and Orkney, but it is administered as part of Shetland and is often counted as part of the island group. The Out Skerries lie east of the main group.

Table of contents

1 Famous places
2 Main Industries
3 Language
4 External links

Famous places

Mousa broch

Clickimin broch

Jarlshof settlement

Main Industries

Language

The older Norn was replaced by Scots which in turn is being replaced by Scottish English.

External links

United Kingdom | Scotland | Council areas of Scotland