where are the shetland islands
The Shetland Islands are in the far north of Scotland, forming the northernmost part of the United Kingdom between mainland Scotland, Norway, and the Faroe Islands.
Where they are
- The Shetland Islands are an archipelago in Scotland, in the North Atlantic and North Sea, roughly 100–130 miles (about 160–210 km) north of the Scottish mainland.
- They lie about 50 miles (80 km) northeast of Orkney and around 140 miles (220 km) west of Norway, sitting between Scotland, Norway, and the Faroe Islands.
Key geographic facts
- Shetland consists of over 100 islands (around 15–20 inhabited), with the largest island called Mainland and the main town and port being Lerwick.
- The total area is about 567 square miles (around 1,469 km²), with an indented coastline of roughly 1,697 miles, reflecting its many inlets and bays.
Quick travel picture
- Lerwick, the capital, sits near latitude 60° N, putting Shetland on a similar latitude to parts of southern Greenland and Alaska, giving it long summer days and short winter days.
- Ferries and flights typically connect Shetland with Aberdeen and other Scottish locations, making it a remote but regularly linked part of the UK.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.