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Orkney Islands |
Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Wikipedia, Hutchinson | 0.02 sec. |
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Orkney Islands, archipelago and council area (1991 pop. 19,650), 376 sq mi (974 sq km), N Scotland, consisting of about 70 islands in the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea, N of Scottish mainland across the Pentland Firth. About 20 islands are inhabited. Mainland (Pomona), the largest, has Kirkwall Kirkwall (kûrk`wôl, –wəl), town (1991 pop. 5,867), N Scotland, on the east coast of Mainland Island. ..... Click the link for more information. , the county town, and Stromness Stromness, town, on Mainland island, Orkney Islands, N Scotland. It has a harbor with shipyards and docks. Eggs are exported. In the 18th and 19th cent., Stromness was a whaling center and a port of call for the Hudson's Bay Company. ..... Click the link for more information. . Other large islands are Hoy Hoy, island, 13 mi (21 km) long and 6 mi (9.7 km) wide, off N Scotland, second largest of the Orkney Islands . It is located at the southwestern side of the Scapa Flow anchorage. ..... Click the link for more information. , South Ronaldsay, Stronsay, Sanday, Westray, and Rousay. The climate is mild, windy, and wet. The Orkneys are one of Scotland's richest farming regions. Beef cattle and eggs are the most important produce. Sheep and pigs are also raised. Some fishing, mainly for lobster, is carried on. The discovery of North Sea oil in the early 1970s provided employment for many inhabitants. The Orkney Islands were settled by Picts Picts, ancient inhabitants of central and N Scotland, of uncertain origin. First mentioned (A.D. 297) by the Roman writer Eumenius as northern invaders of Roman Britain, they were probably descendants of late Bronze Age and early Iron Age invaders of Britain. The islands have many prehistoric relics. Stone Age villages have been unearthed at Skara Brae Skara Brae (skâr`ə brā), Stone Age village, on Mainland in the Orkney Islands , N Scotland. Dating from c.3200 to 2200 B.C. Orkney IslandsIsland group (pop., 2001: 19,245), Scotland. Lying north of the Scottish mainland, it comprises more than 70 islands and islets and constitutes the Orkney council area. The Orkney Islands, only 20 of which are inhabited, were the Orcades of ancient Classical literature. There is much evidence of prehistoric inhabitants. Norse raiders arrived in the late 8th century AD and colonized the islands in the 9th century. Thereafter they were ruled by Norway and Denmark until Scotland annexed them in 1472. It is a prosperous agricultural area. Kirkwall is the administrative seat. |
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| The 'Guide to Scotland' says the coast is rugged; and there is a wild sea between the north shore and the Orkney Islands. |
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