home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1998
/
Epic Interactive Encyclopedia, The - 1998 Edition (1998)(Epic Marketing).iso
/
O
/
Orkney_Islands
/
INFOTEXT
< prev
Wrap
Text File
|
1992-09-01
|
914b
|
22 lines
Island group off the NE coast of Scotland.
area 970 sq km/375 sq mi towns Kirkwall
(administrative headquarters), on Mainland
(Pomona) features comprises about 90 islands
and islets, low-lying and treeless; mild
climate owing to the Gulf Stream; Skara Brae,
a remarkably well-preserved Neolithic village
on Mainland. Population, long falling, has in
recent years risen as their remoteness from
the rest of the world attracts new settlers.
Scapa Flow, between Mainland and Hoy, was a
naval base in both world wars, and the German
fleet scuttled itself here 21 June 1919.
products fishing and farming, wind power
(Burgar Hill has the world's most productive
wind generator; blades 60 m/197 ft diameter)
population (1987) 19,000 history Harald I
(Fairhair) of Norway conquered the islands
876; pledged to James III of Scotland 1468
for the dowry of Margaret of Denmark and
annexed by Scotland (the dowry unpaid) 1472