Shetland Islands
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The Shetland Islands (sometimes historically spelled Zetland, formerly Hjaltland) are one of 32 unitary council regions in Scotland. 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.

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

• Bressay, Burra
• Fetlar, Foula
• Muckle Roe
• Noss
• Papa Stour
• Trondra
• Unst
• Vaila, Vementry
• Whalsay
• Yell

The Fair Isle lies approximately halfway between Shetland and Orkney, but it is administered as part of Shetland and is sometimes counted as part of the island group.

Famous places:

• Mousa broch
• Jarlshof settlement

Main Industries:

• Crude oil and Natural gas production
• Agriculture
• Fishing

Language:

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

External links

• Shetland Islands Council's official website
• Shetland Dialect

The original article can be found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shetland_Islands.
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