| − | The '''Orkney Islands''', also known as '''Orkney''' or '''The Orkneys''', are a [[county]] and [[archipelago]] located off the north coast of [[Scotland]] in the [[United Kingdom]]. The county consists of 70 [[island]]s and skerries. The islands are seperated from the Scottish mainland by the Pentland Firth, a 10km seaway which stretches from the north coast of Caithness to the Orkney island of South Ronaldsay. | + | The '''Orkney Islands''', also known as '''Orkney''' or wrongly '''The Orkneys''', are a [[county]] and [[archipelago]] located off the north coast of [[Scotland]] in the [[United Kingdom]]. The county consists of 70 [[island]]s and skerries. The islands are seperated from the Scottish mainland by the Pentland Firth, a 10km seaway which stretches from the north coast of Caithness to the Orkney island of South Ronaldsay. |
| | The largest island of the Orkneys, known as Mainland, is home to 15,000 of the total 20,000 population of the county, but the north islands of Shapinsay, Gairsay, Stronsay, Wyre, Rousay, Egilsay, Eday, Sanday, Westray, Papa Westray and North Ronaldsay and the south islands of Graemsay, Hoy, Burray, Flotta and South Ronaldsay are also populated.<ref>http://www.visitorkney.com/about_orkney.asp</ref> | | The largest island of the Orkneys, known as Mainland, is home to 15,000 of the total 20,000 population of the county, but the north islands of Shapinsay, Gairsay, Stronsay, Wyre, Rousay, Egilsay, Eday, Sanday, Westray, Papa Westray and North Ronaldsay and the south islands of Graemsay, Hoy, Burray, Flotta and South Ronaldsay are also populated.<ref>http://www.visitorkney.com/about_orkney.asp</ref> |