northern isles northern isles scots old norse archipelago comprising chain islands north coast mainland scotland climate cool temperate influenced surrounding seas main island groups total inhabited islands landscapes fertile agricultural islands contrasting rugged islands north economy dependent fishing oil wealth surrounding seas developing energy industry share common norse history island groups absorbed 15th century remained country following formation later united_kingdom islands played significant naval role world wars 20th century tourism important distinctive prehistoric ruins playing key attraction regular ferry air connections mainland scotland scandinavian influence remains strong especially relation local folklore island chains strong distinct local cultures place names islands dominated norse heritage retain pre celtic elements geography phrase northern isles generally refers main islands lies mainland scotland falls highland council area local government purposes clearly northern isles scotland normally considered similarly distant main group technically small islands lie north coast scotland highland usually considered situated kilometres north coast mainland scotland separated waters largest island known mainland area square kilometres making sixth largest scottish island total population largest town kilometres north mainland scotland covers area square kilometres coastline kilometres long capital largest settlement population half archipelago total population people live kilometres town inhabited islands total geology superficial rock entirely old red sandstone middle age neighbouring mainland county sandstone rests rocks series seen narrow strip older rock exposed small island middle volcanic rocks found western eastern mainland proposed differences chemistry means remains uncertain late age found glacial presence chalk flint originated bed north_sea demonstrate influence ice action islands boulder clay abundant cover substantial areas geology different extremely complex numerous faults fold axes islands northern outpost rocks similar histories scottish mainland small deposits granite distinctive feature remnants floor economy depends oil bearing sediments surrounding seas geological evidence shows caused hit east coast scotland created wave metres high modern populations highest climate northern isles cool temperate climate remarkably mild steady northerly latitude influence surrounding seas average peak temperatures february august temperatures rare frost free period little months average annual rainfall millimetres millimetres winds key feature climate summer constant winter frequent strong winds average hours recorded annually wind farm operates turbines achieved world record capacity course persistent strong winds snowfall usually confined period november february seldom lies ground day rain falls april august month receives average annual bright sunshine averages hours overcast days common tourists islands summers longest day hours daylight complete darkness unknown long twilight known dim winter nights long hours daylight time year aurora occasionally seen northern horizon moderate activity numerous important prehistoric remains especially period form heart world heritage site inscribed ring situated island probably oldest preserved house northern europe structure inhabited years evidently built site older settlement extremely rich physical remains prehistoric eras archaeological sites told remarkable dividing wall ran kilometres island provided outstanding numerous erected time finest preserved example round towers collective site iron age including old joined tentative list history culture politics times culture built unknown late iron age northern isles kingdom main archaeological relics times symbol stones best examples located shows warriors spears sword combined traditional symbols discovered silver jewellery pieces believed date approximately stated treasure best survival scottish silver period variety typical forms animal head forms terminal christianity probably arrived 6th century organised church authority emerged 8th century found site inscribed interpretation caused controversy generally considered irish christian origin norse era 8th century time viking invasions scottish commenced came arrival new culture language fate existing indigenous population uncertain according islands headquarters pirate expeditions carried norway coasts mainland scotland response norwegian king fair hair annexed received death son battle scotland scholars believe story based later islands fully stopped way ireland norway king summoned stout said order subjects baptised refuse killed spot swear island fire steel agreed islands christian stroke receiving bishop early 11th century norwegian rule scots rule 14th century remained norwegian province scottish influence growing murdered line norse scots houses angus pledged christian capacity king norway security payment daughter margaret scotland money paid connection crown scotland permanent 1st earl ceded title following year northern isles directly annexed scotland early british era early 15th century sold goods german trade north german towns lasted act union high salt duties prohibited german merchants trading went economic depression scottish local traders skilled trading fish local merchant took german merchants left fitted ships export fish continent independent farmer fishermen negative consequences fish merchant british rule came price ordinary people traders nautical skills sought royal_navy served napoleonic wars press gangs period men taken returned home late 19th century owned people emigrated passing act liberal prime minister rule act enabled effectively landowners owner small farms experience somewhat different influx scottish helped create diverse independent community included farmers fishermen merchants called proved increasing able defend rights feudal 17th century formed overwhelming majority employees canada harsh climate reputation boat handling skills ideal candidates canadian north period burning briefly islands economy example tonnes long tons burned produced ash bringing local economy agricultural improvements beginning 17th century coincided enclosure victoria era emergence large managed farms shift rotation system producing high quality beef cattle little evidence fishing fleet 19th century grew rapidly boats involved 1840s later leading centres development seamen involved arctic waters 19th century boats generally based britain world wars site navy base scapa_flow played major role world war armistice german high seas fleet transferred entirety scapa_flow decision future german sailors opened sea scuttled ships world war 10th stationed single year march ships sailed escorted convoy system total lost men higher proportion britain waves emigration 1920s 1930s month world war royal_navy battleship sunk german boat scapa_flow result barriers built close access channels additional advantage creating enabling travellers island island road instead obliged rely ferries constructed italian prisoners war constructed ornate italian chapel flow base run war eventually closing world war norwegian naval unit nicknamed bus established autumn base later conduct operations coast norway fishing vessels norwegian refugees gathered bus conducted covert operations carrying intelligence agents refugees instructors resistance military supplies trips sea highly decorated allied naval officer war making problem declining population significant post war years decades 20th century recovery life islands focused growing prosperity emergence relatively society modern times politics history islands norse flavour historic links norway similarities geography history matched elements current political process represented house_of_commons constituency member parliament current incumbent highlands islands electoral region separate elect member past post system separate local councils dominated members political party political party supported rest scotland contested general election movement coalition movement equivalent candidate came 4th votes cast experiment repeated transport ferry services link rest scotland main routes harbour operated inter island ferry services operated operated respective local authorities run service archipelago exposed wind tide numerous sites wrecked ships sited aid navigation locations main airport operated highland franchise provides services scottish mainland glasgow airport similar services fly scottish mainland inter island flights available islands inhabited islands including airport frequent charter flights near transport workers small terminal fifth largest number international passengers scotland scheduled air service shortest world minutes duration economics different resulted local economies main revenue producers agriculture fishing energy petroleum industry offshore crude oil natural gas production creative industries tourism oil gas landed subsequently largest oil europe taxes oil increased public sector spending social welfare art sport environmental measures financial development quarters islands work force employed service sector accounted output fishing remains central islands economy today total catch tonnes long tons short tons valued million contrast fishing declined 19th century impact oil industry significant soil generally fertile land taken farms agriculture far important sector economy providing employment quarter workforce agricultural land grazing sheep cattle production hectares acres woodland occupies hectares acres significant wind marine energy resources energy recently come prominence scottish government backed research facility installed wave testing system mainland tidal power testing station island described kind world set provide developers wave tidal energy devices purpose built performance testing facility culture northern isles rich folklore example tales concerning form draws islands scandinavian connections local customs past included marriage ceremonies stone forms best known literary figures modern poet poet novelist novelist strong tradition local music formed 1950s promote traditional style vibrant local culture today notable folk music include late country musician released commercial recording life work popular years death language language spoken islands descendant extinct 18th 19th century local scots language collectively known scots highly distinctive retain strong influences island names etymology island names dominated norse influence follows listing inhabited islands oldest version modern recorded intermediate 16th century gradually replaced use letter discontinued replaced similar looking letter form describe county council earlier chat island cats cat tribe referred early irish literature possible forms norse cat tribe occupied parts northern scottish mainland norse cat meaning cats location mentioned visited britain known certain mentioned clear referring described great_britain triangular shape northern tip called referred visible writing 1st century roman called islands usually interpreted tribal meaning young pig young old islands island pigs script cited evidence pre norse existence old irish association weight norse norse retained earlier root changed meaning providing definite example adaption pre norse place islands meaning seal islands alternative recorded meaning horse isle contain element meaning plain unlike larger islands obvious final island syllables difficult interpret suggests root helpful island presence good harbour plentiful archipelago written record dates reference suggest judge island suggestion island known associated islands means current island island tidal stream reference strong currents norse gave animal names islands transferred english example horse brother isle norse meaning broad beach island norse meaning small english numerous examples use including meaning large big scots words island names appears small scots scots names
Northern Isles