麻豆社

Kirkwall is the capital and largest town of Orkney. It sits on a narrow neck of land that acts as a natural harbour, supporting fishing and the seafaring trade favoured by its Norse founders. The name derives from the Norse 鈥淜irkjuvagr鈥� meaning 鈥淐hurch Bay鈥� and refers to St Olaf鈥檚 church, established here in the early 11th Century. The settlement grew to become a market town and centre for the surrounding farmland. Significant growth came in 1137 when the construction of St Magnus Cathedral drew a sizeable workforce to the town. Kirkwall remained in Norse control until 1468 when Orkney was given to James III as part of a marriage agreement.

The bay on which the town sits originally extended further south. It incorporated the Peerie Sea 鈥� now an inland lake. Over time, the bay was filled in and land reclaimed. The current harbour sits to the north of the original town. It acts as a port for ferry services to Aberdeen, Lerwick and the main north islands of the Orkney group.

Much of Orkney is treeless, partly as a result of deforestation carried out by early man and partly through the exposed conditions which makes it difficult for young trees to establish. At one time the Big Tree in Kirkwall was said to be the largest tree in Orkney, protected by its position among closely grouped buildings. It originally stood in the garden of a house in Albert Street. When the house was sold in the 1870s, the garden was taken down, leaving the tree standing in the street. This lone sycamore is thought to be around 200 years old. Its age and position in paved ground, combined with years of extensive pruning have left it in poor condition.

Features of the area

• Town
• Coast
• Harbour
• Island
• Fishing

Orkney Group

Orkney is one of Scotland鈥檚 32 unitary council areas.

It is an archipelago of approximately 70 islands that lies 16 kilometres north of the coast of Caithness. 20 of the islands are inhabited. The largest, Mainland, is the sixth largest Scottish island and the tenth-largest island in the British Isles. Kirkwall is the area鈥檚 administrative centre.

Elsewhere on the 麻豆社

Elsewhere on the web