Editing Shetland (section)

== Geography and geology ==
{{Main|List of Shetland islands}}

[[File:Lerwick from Staney Hill. - Remy Osman.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[Lerwick]] is Shetland's largest settlement]]
[[File:Gulberwick IMG 3157 (20121529905).jpg|thumb|250px|left|[[Mainland, Shetland]]]]
[[File:Baliasta and Baltasound from Houlland - geograph.org.uk - 921747.jpg|thumb|250px|left|[[Unst]]]]

Shetland is around {{convert|170|km|sigfig=3|order=flip|abbr=off}} north of Great Britain and {{cvt|230|km|sigfig=3|order=flip}} west of [[Bergen]], [[Norway]]. It covers an area of {{cvt|1468|km2|order=flip}} and has a coastline {{cvt|2702|km|order=flip}} long.<ref name=SIC4>Shetland Islands Council (2012) p. 4</ref>

[[Lerwick]], the capital and largest settlement, has a population of 6,958. About half of the archipelago's total population of 22,920 people<ref name=NRoS>{{cite web |title=Shetland Islands Council Area Profile|url=https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/files/statistics/council-area-data-sheets/shetland-islands-council-profile.html|date=April 2020|publisher=National Records of Scotland|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200505072906/https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/files//statistics/council-area-data-sheets/shetland-islands-council-profile.html|archive-date=5 May 2020|access-date=2020-05-07}}</ref> live within {{cvt|16|km|mi|0|order=flip}} of the town.<ref>[http://visit.shetland.org/lerwick "Visit Shetland"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722122259/http://visit.shetland.org/lerwick |date=22 July 2011 }}. Visit.Shetland.org Retrieved 25 December 2010</ref>

[[Scalloway]] on the west coast, which was the capital until 1708, has a population of fewer than 1,000 people.<ref name="Shetland Islands Council 2010 p. 10">Shetland Islands Council (2010) p. 10</ref>

Only 16 of about 100 islands are inhabited. The main island of the group is known as [[Mainland, Shetland|Mainland]]. The next largest are [[Yell (island)|Yell]], [[Unst]], and [[Fetlar]], which lie to the north, and [[Bressay]] and [[Whalsay]], which lie to the east. [[East Burra|East]] and [[West Burra]], [[Muckle Roe]], [[Papa Stour]], [[Trondra]], and [[Vaila]] are smaller islands to the west of Mainland. The other inhabited islands are [[Foula]] {{cvt|28|km|order=flip}} west of [[Walls, Shetland|Walls]], [[Fair Isle]] {{cvt|38|km|order=flip}} south-west of [[Sumburgh Head]], and the [[Out Skerries]] to the east.{{#tag:ref|Shetland Islands Council state there are 15 inhabited islands, and count East and West Burra, which are joined by a bridge, as a single unit. Out Skerries has two inhabited islands: [[Housay]] and [[Bruray]].<ref name="SIC4"/>|group="Note"}}

The uninhabited islands include [[Mousa]], known for the [[Broch of Mousa]], the finest preserved example of an [[Iron Age]] [[broch]]; [[Isle of Noss|Noss]] to the east of [[Bressay]], which has been a national nature reserve since 1955; [[St Ninian's Isle]], connected to Mainland by the largest active [[tombolo]] in the United Kingdom; and [[Out Stack]], the [[Extreme points of the United Kingdom|northernmost]] point of the [[British Isles]].<ref>Hansom, J.D. (2003) [http://www.jncc.gov.uk/pdf/gcrdb/gcrsiteaccount1930.pdf "St Ninian's Tombolo".] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081023201517/http://www.jncc.gov.uk/pdf/gcrdb/GCRsiteaccount1930.pdf|date=23 October 2008}} (pdf) Coastal Geomorphology of Great Britain. ''Geological Conservation Review''. Retrieved 13 March 2011</ref><ref name=OS>[http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/getamap/ "Get-a-map"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100122045621/http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/getamap/ |date=22 January 2010 }}, [[Ordnance Survey]], Retrieved 7 March 2011</ref><ref>Fojut, Noel (1981) "Is Mousa a broch?" ''Proc. Soc. Antiq. Scot.'' '''111''' pp. 220–228</ref> Shetland's location means that it provides a number of such records: [[Muness Castle|Muness]] is the most northerly castle in the United Kingdom and [[Skaw, Unst|Skaw]] the most northerly settlement.<ref>[http://shetlopedia.com/Skaw_%28Unst%29 "Skaw (Unst)"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716054825/http://shetlopedia.com/Skaw_(Unst)|date=16 July 2011}}, Shetlopedia, Retrieved 13 March 2011</ref>

[[File:Shetland geology map.png|thumb|right|250px|Shetland geological map]]

The geology of Shetland is complex, with numerous [[Fault (geology)|faults]] and [[Fold (geology)#Describing folds|fold axes]]. These islands are the northern outpost of the [[Caledonian orogeny]], and there are outcrops of [[Lewisian complex|Lewisian]], [[Dalradian]] and [[Moine Supergroup|Moine]] metamorphic rocks with histories similar to their equivalents on the Scottish mainland. There are also [[Old Red Sandstone]] deposits and [[granite]] intrusions. The most distinctive feature is the [[ophiolite]] in Unst and Fetlar which is a remnant of the [[Iapetus Ocean]] floor made up of [[ultramafic|ultrabasic]] [[peridotite]] and [[gabbro]].<ref>Gillen (2003) pp. 90–91</ref>

Much of Shetland's economy depends on the oil-bearing sediments in the surrounding seas.<ref>Keay & Keay (1994) p. 867</ref> Geological evidence shows that in around 6100 BC a [[tsunami]] caused by the [[Storegga Slide]] hit Shetland, as well as the west coast of Norway, and may have created a wave of up to {{cvt|25|m}} high in the [[Firth|voes]] where modern populations are highest.<ref>Smith, David [http://www.landforms.eu/shetland/Tsunami%20hazards.htm "Tsunami hazards"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720164303/http://www.landforms.eu/shetland/Tsunami%20hazards.htm |date=20 July 2011 }}, Fettes.com, Retrieved 7 March 2011</ref>

The highest point of Shetland is [[Ronas Hill]] at {{cvt|450|m}}. The [[Pleistocene]] glaciations entirely covered the islands. During that period, the Stanes of Stofast, a 2000-tonne [[glacial erratic]], came to rest on a prominent hilltop in [[Lunnasting]].<ref>Schei (2006) pp. 103–04</ref>

It has been estimated that there are about 275 [[stack (geology)|sea stacks]] in Scotland of which circa 110 are located around the coasts of Shetland. For many of them there is no record of there having been any attempt by [[rock climbing|rock climbers]] to ascend them.{{sfn|Mellor|2020|pp=5–6}}{{sfn|Mellor|2020|p=184}}

Shetland has a [[National scenic area (Scotland)|national scenic area]] which, unusually, includes a number of discrete locations: Fair Isle, Foula, South West Mainland (including the [[Scalloway Islands]]), Muckle Roe, [[Esha Ness Lighthouse|Esha Ness]], Fethaland and [[Hermaness|Herma Ness]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/9148|title=Shetland National Scenic Area|publisher=NatureScot|access-date=7 October 2020|archive-date=15 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815093907/https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/9148|url-status=live}}</ref> The total area covered by the designation is 41,833 [[hectares|ha]], of which 26,347 ha is marine (i.e. below low tide).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Environment/Countryside/Heritage/Areas/maps|title=National Scenic Areas – Maps|publisher=SNH|date=2010-12-20|access-date=2018-05-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140337/http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Environment/Countryside/Heritage/Areas/maps|archive-date=12 June 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In October 2018, legislation came into force in Scotland to prevent public bodies, without good reason, showing Shetland in a separate box in maps, as had often been the practice. The legislation requires the islands to be "displayed in a manner that accurately and proportionately represents their geographical location in relation to the rest of Scotland", so as make clear the islands' real distance from other areas.<ref>Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 section 17; {{cite news|title=Ban on putting Shetland in a box on maps comes into force|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-45733111|work=BBC News|date=4 October 2018|access-date=4 October 2018|archive-date=4 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004030043/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-45733111|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Kent|first1=Alexander|title=Remapping the Shetland Isles|url=https://blogs.canterbury.ac.uk/expertcomment/boxit-remapping-the-shetland-isles/|website=canterbury.ac.uk|date=11 October 2018 |publisher=Canterbury Christ Church University|access-date=10 June 2020|archive-date=10 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610141923/https://blogs.canterbury.ac.uk/expertcomment/boxit-remapping-the-shetland-isles/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1=Kent|first1=Alexander|title=Maps > Representation|journal=The Cartographic Journal|date=18 October 2018|volume=55|issue=3|pages=203–204|doi=10.1080/00087041.2018.1527980|bibcode=2018CartJ..55..203K |doi-access=free}}</ref>

=== Climate ===
[[File:Starry Nights IMG 5868 (23146012374).jpg|thumb|right|250px|Aurora in [[Scatness]]]]
Shetland has an oceanic temperate maritime climate ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cfb''), bordering on, but very slightly above average in summer temperatures, the [[Oceanic climate#Subpolar variety (Cfc, Cwc)|subpolar]] variety, with long but cool winters and short warm summers. The climate all year round is moderate owing to the influence of the surrounding seas, with average night-time low temperatures a little above {{cvt|1|°C}} in January and February and average daytime high temperatures of near {{cvt|14|°C}} in July and August.<ref name="climatetemp">[https://www.shetland.climatemps.com/index.php "Shetland, Scotland Climate"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118230502/https://www.shetland.climatemps.com/index.php|date=18 November 2018}} climatetemp.info, Retrieved 6 January 2018</ref> The highest temperature on record was {{cvt|27.8|°C}} on 6 August 1910 at [[Sumburgh Head]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://digital.nmla.metoffice.gov.uk/IO_a79cbb0f-7016-4c69-9dd4-4afcb1eb9039/|title=MWR_1910 &#124; Met Office UA|website=digital.nmla.metoffice.gov.uk|access-date=25 May 2021|archive-date=25 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525133825/https://digital.nmla.metoffice.gov.uk/IO_a79cbb0f-7016-4c69-9dd4-4afcb1eb9039/|url-status=live}}</ref> and the lowest {{cvt|-8.9|°C}} in the Januaries of 1952 and 1959.<ref name="SIC200505">Shetland Islands Council (2005), pp. 5–9</ref> The frost-free period may be as little as three months.<ref>[https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/regional-climates/ns "Northern Scotland: climate"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180107120102/https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/regional-climates/ns |date=7 January 2018 }}, Met office, Retrieved 6 January 2018</ref> In contrast, inland areas of nearby [[Scandinavia]] on similar latitudes experience significantly larger temperature differences between summer and winter, with the average highs of regular July days comparable to Lerwick's all-time record heat that is around {{cvt|23|°C}}, further demonstrating the moderating effect of the Atlantic Ocean. In contrast, winters are considerably milder than those expected in nearby continental areas, even comparable to winter temperatures of many parts of England and Wales much further south.

The general character of the climate is windy, cloudy and often wet, with at least {{cvt|2|mm|2}} of rain falling on more than 250 days a year. Average yearly [[precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] is {{cvt|1252|mm}}, with November through January the wettest months, averaging 5.6 to 5.9 inches of precipitation, mostly rain. Snowfall is usually confined to the period November to February, and snow seldom lies on the ground for more than a day. Relatively less rain falls from April to July, although on average, no month receives less than {{cvt|50|mm}}. [[Fog]] is common during summer due to the cooling effect of the sea on mild southerly airflows.<ref name="climatetemp"/><ref name="SIC200505"/>

Because of the islands' [[latitude]], on clear winter nights the [[aurora borealis|northern lights]] can sometimes be seen in the sky, while in summer there is almost [[twilight#Duration|perpetual daylight]], a state of affairs known locally as the "simmer<!-- sic --> dim".<ref>[http://visit.shetland.org/climate "The Climate of Shetland"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120408081839/http://visit.shetland.org/climate |date=8 April 2012 }}, Visit Shetland, Retrieved 11 May 2012</ref> Annual bright sunshine averages 1110 hours, and overcast days are common.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19812010/sites/lerwick.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20160124155928/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19812010/sites/lerwick.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 January 2016|title=Lerwick climate information|publisher=Met Office|access-date=5 August 2015}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Shetland Isles (S. Screen),{{efn|Weather station is located {{convert|1.7|mi|1|abbr=out}} from the Lerwick port centre.}} elevation {{convert|82|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1930–present
|collapsed =
|metric first = y
|single line = y
|Jan record high C = 12.8
|Feb record high C = 11.7
|Mar record high C = 13.3
|Apr record high C = 16.1
|May record high C = 20.7
|Jun record high C = 22.2
|Jul record high C = 23.4
|Aug record high C = 22.1
|Sep record high C = 19.4
|Oct record high C = 17.2
|Nov record high C = 13.9
|Dec record high C = 12.6
|Jan high C = 6.1
|Feb high C = 5.8
|Mar high C = 6.7
|Apr high C = 8.3
|May high C = 10.6
|Jun high C = 12.6
|Jul high C = 14.4
|Aug high C = 14.7
|Sep high C = 13.0
|Oct high C = 10.4
|Nov high C = 8.1
|Dec high C = 6.6
|year high C = 9.8
|Jan mean C = 4.1
|Feb mean C = 3.8
|Mar mean C = 4.6
|Apr mean C = 6.1
|May mean C = 8.1
|Jun mean C = 10.3
|Jul mean C = 12.2
|Aug mean C = 12.6
|Sep mean C = 11.1
|Oct mean C = 8.5
|Nov mean C = 6.2
|Dec mean C = 4.5
|year mean C = 7.7
|Jan low C = 2.2
|Feb low C = 1.8
|Mar low C = 2.4
|Apr low C = 3.8
|May low C = 5.6
|Jun low C = 8.1
|Jul low C = 10.1
|Aug low C = 10.5
|Sep low C = 9.1
|Oct low C = 6.6
|Nov low C = 4.3
|Dec low C = 2.5
|year low C = 5.3
|Jan record low C = -8.9
|Feb record low C = -7.4
|Mar record low C = -8.3
|Apr record low C = -5.7
|May record low C = -2.2
|Jun record low C = -0.6
|Jul record low C = 3.5
|Aug record low C = 2.8
|Aug record low F = 37.0
|Sep record low C = -0.6
|Oct record low C = -3.3
|Nov record low C = -5.7
|Dec record low C = -8.2
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 150.4
|Feb precipitation mm = 122.7
|Mar precipitation mm = 109.2
|Apr precipitation mm = 67.8
|May precipitation mm = 56.9
|Jun precipitation mm = 59.8
|Jul precipitation mm = 67.7
|Aug precipitation mm = 88.6
|Sep precipitation mm = 105.8
|Oct precipitation mm = 130.6
|Nov precipitation mm = 143.2
|Dec precipitation mm = 149.7
|year precipitation mm = 1252.3
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 22.0
|Feb precipitation days = 19.2
|Mar precipitation days = 19.3
|Apr precipitation days = 14.7
|May precipitation days = 11.7
|Jun precipitation days = 11.5
|Jul precipitation days = 12.1
|Aug precipitation days = 13.1
|Sep precipitation days = 16.1
|Oct precipitation days = 20.3
|Nov precipitation days = 21.5
|Dec precipitation days = 22.6
|year precipitation days = 204.1
|Jan snow days = 10
|Feb snow days = 9
|Mar snow days = 9
|Apr snow days = 5
|May snow days = 1
|Jun snow days = 0
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 0
|Oct snow days = 1
|Nov snow days = 5
|Dec snow days = 8
|year snow days = 48
|Jan humidity = 87
|Feb humidity = 86
|Mar humidity = 86
|Apr humidity = 87
|May humidity = 88
|Jun humidity = 89
|Jul humidity = 90
|Aug humidity = 91
|Sep humidity = 90
|Oct humidity = 89
|Nov humidity = 87
|Dec humidity = 87
|year humidity = 89
|Jan sun = 27.4
|Feb sun = 57.6
|Mar sun = 97.7
|Apr sun = 141.2
|May sun = 191.9
|Jun sun = 147.7
|Jul sun = 128.6
|Aug sun = 132.4
|Sep sun = 99.5
|Oct sun = 75.1
|Nov sun = 38.3
|Dec sun = 20.6
|year sun = 1158.0
|source 1 = [[Met Office]]<ref name ="Met Averages">{{cite web
| url = https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gfxnj5fx4
| title = Lerwick (S. Screen) (Shetland Islands) UK climate averages
| publisher = Met Office
| access-date = 1 January 2022}}</ref> [[NOAA]] (relative humidity and snow days 1961–1990)<ref name="NOAA">{{cite web
| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-VI/UK/03005.TXT
| title = Lerwick 1961–1990
| publisher = NOAA
| access-date = 30 January 2016}}</ref>
|source 2 = [[Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute|KNMI]]<ref>{{cite web| url =http://eca.knmi.nl/indicesextremes/customquerytimeseriesplots.php| title =Manchester ringway extreme values| access-date =30 January 2016| publisher =[[KNMI (institute)|KNMI]]| archive-date =2 February 2018| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20180202192334/http://eca.knmi.nl/indicesextremes/customquerytimeseriesplots.php| url-status =dead}}</ref>}}
{{notelist}}