VisitShetland

Geography

A Drowned Jigsaw

The hundred or so islands of Shetland are formed by a range of ancient hills standing on the continental shelf and partly drowned when sea level rose 400 feet (120m) at the end of the last glaciation, about 10-12,000 years ago.

Uyea Coast

Shetland's 'jigsaw' shape makes the coastline amazingly long - at least 900 miles (1,500km). This is a very old landscape. Although repeatedly flooded by the sea, the basic shape of Shetland has probably changed little for many millions of years.

The Islands

By far the largest island is 'Mainland' (351 square miles / 899km2), followed by Yell (212km2), Unst (120km2), Fetlar (38km2), Bressay (28 km2), Whalsay (23 km2), and Burra (16 km2). Eight smaller ones are also inhabited, leaving more than 85 islands, holms and skerries to the sheep, the birds and the seals.

Geological Variety

Geologically, Shetland is complicated, containing everything from volcanic lavas and granite to sandstone and limestone. The 'grain' of the landscape runs mainly SSW-NNE, with lines of almost parallel hill, valleys and sea lochs composed of 'metamorphic' rocks made from sand and mud squashed and heated over aeons of time. More about Shetland geology...

'The Old Rock' adrift

Many of Shetland's rocks date from the Devonian period, some 370 million years ago, and were laid down in desert conditions between the old Caledonian Mountains to the west and an inland sea to the east.

Fish and fern fossils show this was before flowering plants, insects, birds and most land animals had evolved. What later became Shetland was at that time about 15 degrees south of the Equator, in the latitude of modern Angola. So 'The Old Rock', as Shetlanders call their homeland, has drifted half way round the world.

Varied and Spectacular Scenery

The scenery carved from this complex geology includes some of Britain's highest cliffs, hundreds of sea caves, wide-open sandy bays, miles of beaches, dozens of sheltered sea lochs or 'voes', and even salt marshes and sand dunes.

Eshaness Cliffs

Slopes And Peaks

Most of the islands' 567 square miles (1468km2) are rough grazing on gently sloping hills about 700-900 feet (210-270m) high. The highest point is Ronas Hill (450m).

Rich Flora

Although the landscape has few trees (thanks to 5,000 years of grazing and heather-burning), the hill and coastal pastures are rich in plant species. Some rare arctic-alpine plants, found only on mountain-tops in mainland Scotland, occur here near sea level.

Beneath The Waves

The seabed around Shetland is mostly 200-400 feet (60-120m) deep, with large areas of sand and shingle and some rocky outcrops. Because the islands have been repeatedly submerged in the past 2-3 million years, several former coastlines lie beneath the waves, complete with sunken stacks, caves and headlands. Fringing the islands is a huge forest of kelp, one of the richest environments in the sea and a paradise for scuba divers.

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2009 Photo Competition

VisitShetland is pleased to announce the launch of their 5th annual photocompetition.  This year's theme is 'Shetland's Wild Side'.

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Upcoming Event: Shetland Nature Festival

Shetland's 2nd Nature Festival is set to start this Friday until 12th July.  Don't miss this opportunity to join a variety of specialised wildlife tours with local rangers, photography sessions and expert talks.

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Geopark Shetland Celebrates Shetland Nature Festival

Building on the success of the launch of the Volcano Trail and Geopark Shetland website, Geopark Shetland is holding a number of exciting events to celebrate this years’ Shetland Nature Festival.

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Shetland Museum and Archives seeks information on Emigrants for Hamefarin Exhibition

In 2010, Shetland will host a Hamefarin (homecoming), welcoming Shetlanders from all around the world back to their home islands.  As part of the celebrations Shetland Museum and Archives is developing a special exhibition and are appealing for images and objects relating to Shetland emigrants. (Above photo:  Laurence and Ester Ward on Daytona Beach, Florida, USA, August 1954)

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