|
The Northern Isles (; (スコットランド・ゲール語:Na h-Eileanan a Tuath); ) is an archipelago comprising a chain of islands off the north coast of mainland Scotland. The climate is cool and temperate and much influenced by the surrounding seas. There are two main island groups: Shetland and Orkney. There are a total of 26 inhabited islands with landscapes of the fertile agricultural islands of Orkney contrasting with the more rugged Shetland islands to the north, where the economy is more dependent on fishing and the oil wealth of the surrounding seas. Both have a developing renewable energy industry. They also share a common Pictish and Norse history. Both island groups were absorbed into the Kingdom of Scotland in the 15th century and remained part of the country following the formation of the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707, and later the United Kingdom after 1801. The islands played a significant naval role during the world wars of the 20th century. Tourism is important to both archipelagos, with their distinctive prehistoric ruins playing a key part in their attraction, and there are regular ferry and air connections with mainland Scotland. The Scandinavian influence remains strong, especially in relation to local folklore, and both island chains have strong, although distinct, local cultures. The place names of the islands are dominated by their Norse heritage, although some may retain pre-Celtic elements. ==Geography== The phrase "Northern Isles" generally refers to the main islands of the Orkney and Shetland archipelagos. Stroma, which lies between mainland Scotland and Orkney is part of Caithness, and so falls under Highland council area for local government purposes, not Orkney. It is however clearly one of the "northern isles" of Scotland.〔("Clarence G Sinclair: Mell Head, Stroma, Pentland Firth" ). Scotland's Places. Retrieved 27 May 2011.〕 Fair Isle and Foula are outliers of Shetland, but would normally be considered as part of Shetland and thus the Northern Isles. Similarly, Sule Skerry and Sule Stack although distant from the main group are part of Orkney and technically amongst the Northern Isles. However the other small islands that lie off the north coast of Scotland are in Highland and thus not usually considered to be part of the Northern Isles.〔("Northern Isles" ). MSN Encarta. Retrieved 31 May 2011.〕 Orkney is situated north of the coast of mainland Scotland, from which it is separated by the waters of the Pentland Firth. The largest island, known as the "Mainland" has an area of making it the sixth largest Scottish island.〔Haswell-Smith (2004) pp. 334, 502〕 The total population in 2001 was 19,245 and the largest town is Kirkwall.〔("Orkney Islands" ) Vision of Britain. Retrieved 21 September 2009.〕 Shetland is around north of mainland Scotland, covers an area of and has a coastline long.〔Shetland Islands Council (2010) p. 4〕 Lerwick, the capital and largest settlement, has a population of around 7,500 and about half of the archipelago's total population of 22,000 people live within of the town.〔("Visit Shetland" ). Visit.Shetland.org Retrieved 25 December 2010.〕 Orkney has 20 inhabited islands and Shetland a total of 16.〔Haswell-Smith (2004) pp. 336–403〕〔General Register Office for Scotland (2003)〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Northern Isles」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|