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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 '''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 separated 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>

The largest town and administratie centre of the islands is [[Kirkwall]].<ref>http://www.orkneyjar.com/orkney/kirkwall/</ref>  

The largest town and administrative centre of the islands is [[Kirkwall]].<ref>http://www.orkneyjar.com/orkney/kirkwall/</ref>  

   

   

==Geography==

==Geography==

Orkney lies between 58°41′and 59°24′North, and 2°22′and 3°26′West, measuring 80 kilometres  from northeast to southwest and 47 kilometres from east to west, and covers 975 square kilometres in total.  

Orkney lies between 58°41′and 59°24′North, and 2°22′and 3°26′West, measuring 80 kilometres  from northeast to southwest and 47 kilometres from east to west, and covers 975 square kilometres in total.  

The islands are largely low-lying with the exceptions of rising sandstone hills on the isles of Hoy and Rousay and rugged cliffs on the west coast of Mainland. The coastlines of the islands are indented, and are seperated from each other by straits, usually called "firths".

The islands are largely low-lying with the exceptions of rising sandstone hills on the isles of Hoy and Rousay and rugged cliffs on the west coast of Mainland. The coastlines of the islands are indented, and are separated from each other by straits, usually called "firths".

==Economy==

==Economy==

In the [[Scottish Parliament]] the Orkney Islands are an individual constituency which elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP). The current MSP for the constituency is Liam McArthur of the Liberal Democrat party.<ref>http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/membersPages/liam_mcarthur/</ref> The Orkney Islands are also a member of the Highlands and Islands electoral region.

In the [[Scottish Parliament]] the Orkney Islands are an individual constituency which elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP). The current MSP for the constituency is Liam McArthur of the Liberal Democrat party.<ref>http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/membersPages/liam_mcarthur/</ref> The Orkney Islands are also a member of the Highlands and Islands electoral region.

The local government, Orkney Islands Council (OIC), consists of 21 councillors, all of whom are [[independent]].<ref>http://www.orkney.gov.uk/</ref> Orkney is one of only two Scottish council areas in which a majority of the members are independents, the other being Shetland.

The local government, Orkney Islands Council (OIC), consists of 21 councilors, all of whom are [[independent]].<ref>http://www.orkney.gov.uk/</ref> Orkney is one of only two Scottish council areas in which a majority of the members are independents, the other being Shetland.

 

==References==

==References==

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