Orkney rcaibh (GD) Map of Orkney. Geography Country United Kingdom Archipelago No Location North Sea and Atlantic Ocean Contact 59 N 3 W / 59, -3 59 N 3 W / 59, -3 Area 990 km 2 Number of islands 67 Island (s) principal (s) Mainland , Hoy , Rousay Climax Ward Hill (481 m Hoy ) Geology Continental islands Administration Status Form a Council area United Kingdom Constituent nation Scotland Demography Population 19 800 hab. (2006) Density 20 inhabitants / km 2 Largest city Kirkwall Other information Discovery Neolithic Time Zone UTC +0 Official site www.orkney.gov.uk Orkney Archipelagos of the United Kingdom

Orkney Geography Area - Total -% Water 16 th 990 km ? % Administrative capital Kirkwall ISO 3166-2 GB-ORK ONS code 00RA Demography Population - Total ( 2006 ) - Density 19 800 20 th 20 hb / km Politics Orkney Council http://www.orkney.gov.uk/ Majority

Orkney in English ) are an archipelago located in the north of Scotland. This archipelago of 67 islands, gently rolling, of which 16 are inhabited. The approximately 20 000 Orcadians live mostly on the main island, Mainland , in the towns of Kirkwall and Stromness.

The view from the Orkney Pentland Firth.

The Pentland Firth is the strait separating the Orkney Part Scots of Britain. The distance is 11 km between Brough Ness on the island of South Ronaldsay, and Duncansby Head, County of Caithness.

The Orkney Islands lie between 58 41 'and 59 24' latitude north, and 2 22 'and 3 26' longitude west, they extend over 80 km north-east to south-west, 47 km from east to west, covering an area of 973 sq. km. Except on the west coast of the main islands, which offer remarkable landscapes rugged cliffs for both their beauty and color, this group of islands offers some relief and look naked.

The island is the most hilly Hoy : the highest point in Orkney, Ward Hill , is there. The only other islands with significant peaks are Mainland, with Ward Hill (268 m) and Rousay with Wideford Hill. Most of the islands possess lochs (lakes), the Loch of Harray and Loch of Stenness on the Mainland reach significant proportions. The rivers are mostly torrents from the heights. Except on the west coast of Mainland, Hoy and Housay, the coastline of the islands is deeply indented and the islands themselves are separated from one another by sounds or straits generally called firths, although specific names are also used: Bring Deeps for the inlets to the north-east of Hoy, Scapa Flow in the bay south of Mainland or the Fall of Warness southwest of Eday.

The name of the islands indicate their nature or termination was derived from ey ay Scandinavian meaning the island, ending apparent in the names Pomona (old name Mainland) and Hoy. The islets are usually called on Holmes isolated skerries and rocks.

The Orkney Islands are known for their lack of trees, partially explained by the abundance of wind (although the climate is generally mild). The formation of peat shows that trees have not always been absent, and it is believed that a deliberate deforestation took place in a period prior to the Neolithic. The use of stone in sites such as Skara Brae attests to the lack of wood for construction.

Economy

Most of the land is occupied by farms and agriculture is currently by far the largest sector of the economy with fishing, which is also a major occupation. Orkney export of beef, cheese, whiskey , the beer , fish and seafood

Tidal currents, or roost Yucon Icelandic , are violent off most of the islands and vortices (sometimes powerful enough to endanger a small boat) appear frequently. This feature has recently been under study for developing a project to plant energy Navy with a potential capacity of 1300 MVA term ^Climate

Although situated 59 north latitude, Orkney enjoy the effects of Gulf Stream , which softens the humid climate: the thermometer drops much below 5 degrees in the winter and rises only 20 in summer. The average annual temperature is 8. The winter months are January, February and March, the latter being the coldest. Spring never begins before April, and only in mid-June as temperatures become comfortable. September is often the most pleasant month and in late October or early November, Peedi summer or small summer period of warmer weather, can take place.

The wind that blows at force 3 summer can reach force 8 in the winter, with gusts exceeding 90 km / h. In summer the days are long (18 pm in June), winter rather short with 6 h of day. The sun rises at 3 am and sets at 21 h 25 during the longest day of the year, when he gets up at 9 am and 10 pm sets at 15 17 for the shortest day.

The average annual rainfall varies between 850 mm and 940 mm. Of mist appear during summer and early fall, and severe storms are held four or five times a year, during which refers to the Atlantic waves crashing on the coast 30 km around.

History

Four thousand years before Christ, the Picts left the Highlands and across the Pentland Firth to Orkney and settled then uninhabited. Of these first settlers, the islands retain many testimonies dwellings, tombstones, underground structures (earth-houses), tumuli and cairns , brooches and rings of megaliths.

Occupied by the Vikings in the ^ninth century , which destroyed the Pictish culture, the islands are run by Jarl , who also reigns on Shetland. A saga , the saga Orkneyinga , traces the history of Jarls Orkney. The islands are then directed by "Jarls" or "Counts" from the Scottish families of Atholl , of Angus and finally Strathearn.

Came under Danish rule with Norway , Orkney and Shetland, are finally ceded to Scotland in 1469 : they are part of the dowry of Margaret of Denmark who married King Jacques III of Scotland.

The amount of the dowry was set at 60,000 guilders whose Orkney pledged up to 50,000 guilders. King Christian I of Denmark 's father had met the bride at the wedding that 2000 florins, he added the Shetlands to cover the unpaid 8000 guilders. Ever money was not paid, hence the annexation of the islands of Scotland in 1471.

Heritage

Official flag of Orkney since 2007

In Kirkwall, the main town Mainland:

• St. Magnus Cathedral,
• The Episcopal Palace (Bishop's Palace)
• Palace Count (Earl's Palace)
• Museum Tankerness House.

Other notable sites Mainland:

• Skara Brae (West Coast), the most extraordinary prehistoric Orkney
• the stone circle at Brodgar (Ring of Brodgar)
• the mounds of Maes Howe ,
• the standing stones of Stenness ( Stenness Standing Stones )
• Skaill House (near Skara Brae), stately ^seventeenth century ,
• The Broch of Gurness ,
• the memorial of Lord Kitchener ,
• the cairn of Cuween Hill (on the north coast)
• Tomb of the Eagle (near Burwick, on the south coast).
• colonies of seabirds on the cliffs of Point of Marwick Head
• the distillery Highland Park , the most northerly of Scotland.
• Bay and the historic site of Scapa Flow

Language

The language spoken in these islands remained the Old Norse (language derived from the Scandinavian old) until around 1750, before being replaced by English. This Scandinavian heritage remains very strong today, as in Orkney to Shetland.

Notes

Related articles

• British Isles
• Shetland

External Links

• (En) Website

Source

• The Saga of Orkney, led by Jean Renaud, Editions Aubier, 1990 ( ISBN 2-7007-1642-6 ).

References

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