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Orkney (/ ˈ ɔːr k n i /), also known as the Orkney Islands, is an archipelago off the north coast of mainland Scotland. The plural name the Orkneys is also sometimes used, but is now considered incorrect.
Orkney islands map This is a list of Orkney islands in Scotland. The Orkney archipelago is located 16 kilometres (9.9 mi) north of mainland Scotland and comprises over 70 islands and skerries, of which 20 are permanently inhabited. In addition to the Orkney Mainland there are three groups of islands. The North and South Isles lie respectively north and south of Mainland. The Pentland Skerries ...
Kirkwall, the capital of the islands, is on the isthmus between west Mainland and east Mainland, which historically enabled it to have highly active harbours facing in two directions for the southern and northern Orkney Islands; the southern one, Scapa Flow, is a large, calm and immediately ocean-accessible natural harbour.
Viking grave from Orkney reconstructed in the National Museum of Scotland. Vikings having made the islands the headquarters of their aggressive expeditions (carried out indifferently against their own Norway and the coasts and isles of Scotland), Harold Hårfagre ("Fair Hair") subdued the rovers in 875 and annexed both Orkney and Shetland to
Map of places in Orkney compiled from this list See the list of places in Scotland for places in other counties. Orkney is an archipelago located in the Northern Isles of Scotland. Having been inhabited for nearly 8,500 years, Orkney contains many settlements, hamlet and villages.
Papa Westray (/ p æ p ə ˈ w ɛ s t r iː /) (Scots: Papa Westree), also known as Papay, is one of the Orkney Islands in Scotland, United Kingdom. The fertile soil [8] has long been a draw to the island. Attractions on the island include Holland House with an associated folk museum and the Knap of Howar Neolithic farmstead run by Historic ...
(The islands’ history before human occupation is part of the geology of Scotland.) Although some records referring to Orkney survive that were written during the Roman invasions of Scotland, “prehistory” in northern Scotland is defined as lasting until the start of Scotland's Early Historic Period (around AD 600).
Earl of Orkney, historically Jarl of Orkney, is a title of nobility encompassing the archipelagoes of Orkney and Shetland, which comprise the Northern Isles of Scotland. Originally founded by Norse invaders , the status of the rulers of the Northern Isles as Norwegian vassals was formalised in 1195.