Mainland (Orkney)
Mainland, linguistically correct The Mainland Orkney is 492 km2, the largest island of the Orkneys that belong to Scotland. The island is 40 km long and up to 26 km wide, in the Isthmus of Kirkwall, however, only 2.5 km wide. The current population stands at around 15,330. The highest elevation of the island is the Ward Hill at 269 m.
Kirkwall is the largest town with 7500 inhabitants and administrative center of the Orkneys. From here ferries to northern islands of the archipelago. Nearby is the airport with international and domestic flights to Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, to the Shetland Islands and the northern neighboring islands.
From the second-largest city with a population in 2160 of Orkney, the port town of Stromness, from where ferries depart for Scrabster and Hoy. Mainland is connected since the Second World War by the Churchill Barriers to the southeastern islands of Burray and South Ronaldsay, where there is another ( short ) ferry to John o 'Groats in Caithness (Scotland).
Mainland decays topographic and geomorphologic into three parts:
- Ostmainland ( east of the Isthmus of Kirkwall)
- West Mainland (up to the strait between Finstown and the large hole )
- West Mainland ( of the remainder, in the north)
Of the 21 administrative units ( parishes ) of the Orkney islands account for 13 on the main island of Mainland:
The economic base of the islanders is mainly cattle breeding and fishing, particularly lobster fishing. Meanwhile, services and tourism are more important.
To the east lies the Ostmainlands Deerness peninsula. Here is Skaill whose history stretches back to the Stone Age. The name comes from the foster father of Thorfinn's powerful back, was the name of Thorkell and here a large estate ( in Norn "Bu" ) is designed to have managed. The removed recently church from the 11th century, describes G. Low in 1774 as the most significant parish churches, the (comparable Egilsay ) was equipped with two towers. From this church cemetery dates back to one of the rare Hogbacks, which is presently located in the village church.
Attractions
Earl's Palace in Birsay
The Brough of Deerness
Seals on the south coast Mainlands. The island in the background is Hoy
See also, the sights on the connected via the Churchill Barriers islands, such as the Italian Chapel on Lamb Holm and the Stalled Cairn Isbister Cairn ( Tomb of the Eagle ) and the Ancient cooking place Liddle Burnt Mound on South Ronaldsay, the former farmer look after Ronnie Simison and his daughter (including a small private museum ).