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> United Kingdom > Scotland > Scotland
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| Established | January 01, 1708 |
| Disbanded | Still Active |
| Contributor | RP |
| Last Modified | RBH October 20, 2021 09:17pm |
| Description |
No boundary or name change. This is the old Orkney & Shetland seat. It is the UK's most northerly seat. The Orkney Islands are separated from the Scottish mainland by a seven-mile stretch of the Pentland Firth, and consist of 70 islands of which only 20 are inhabited. There are two main towns, Kirkwall, the capital and administrative centre, and Stromness, both of which are situated on the largest island, which is known as "the mainland". Apart from the oil terminal at Flotta, the main industry in Orkney is beef production. Tourism is a growth industry, but due to Orkney's relative remoteness and inclement weather, it is very seasonal. The Shetland Islands are nearer to Norway than England, and many of the cultural and linguistic influences are more Norse than British; one aspect of their Viking heritage is celebrated in the annual Up Helly Aa fire festival. The main town of Lerwick is a centre for the oil industry and further to the north is Sullom Voe oil terminal. The discovery of oil brought huge economic prosperity to many in the islands; as the industry has become less significant, efforts have focused on the development of other industries.
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