Shetland Islands | History, Climate, Map, Population, & Facts

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<main> <div class="md-page-wrapper"> <div id="content" class="md-content"> <div class="md-article-container template-desktop"> <div class="infinite-scroll-container article last"> <article class="article-content container-lg qa-content px-0 pt-0 pb-40 py-lg-20 content " data-topic-id="540176"> <div class="grid gx-0"> <div class="col-auto"> <div class="topic-left-rail md-article-drawer position-relative d-flex border-right-sm border-left-sm open"> <div class="drawer d-flex flex-column open"> <div class="left-rail-section-content"> <div class="topic-left-rail-header text-truncate bg-gray-50 position-relative text-right d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="tlr-title px-20 py-15 text-left"> <em class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Shetland-Islands-Scotland">Shetland Islands</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <span class="toc-extra-link selected link-gray-900 mt-15"> Introduction </span> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Shetland-Islands-Scotland/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/Shetland-Islands-Scotland">Related Topics</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Shetland-Islands-Scotland/images-videos">Images & Videos</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex 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btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%, -50%)"> <em class="material-icons font-14" data-icon="play_arrow" > </em> </div> </div> </a> <a href="/video/Killer-whales-waters-Scotland-Shetland-Islands/195894" data-href="/media/1/540176/195894" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <div class="position-relative --aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/22/180422-138-6A1BDD9F/Killer-whales-waters-Scotland-Shetland-Islands.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="Survival in the storm-battered waters of the Shetland Islands" class="col-100" /> <div class="btn btn-sm btn-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%, -50%)"> <em class="material-icons font-14" data-icon="play_arrow" > </em> </div> </div> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/26/241326-050-C39D55DC/Locator-map-Shetland-Islands.jpg" data-href="/media/1/540176/281555" class="media-overlay-link 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December 7, 1941. Pearl Harbor infographic. World War II. Hawaii. United States. Japan. 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They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2024-12-08T00:00:00CST" >Dec 8, 2024</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Shetland-Islands-Scotland/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button 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href="/facts/Shetland-Islands-Scotland"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="bg-gray-50 p-15 rounded module-spacing recent-news d-flex flex-column float-false"> <div> <h2 class="font-weight-bold font-14 m-0 d-inline"> News <span class="text-gray-600">•</span> </h2> <div class="recent-news-item first-recent-news-item d-inline"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://spacenews.com/orbex-halts-work-on-own-spaceport-shifts-launches-to-saxavord/" rel="nofollow">Orbex halts work on own spaceport, shifts launches to SaxaVord</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Dec. 5, 2024, 7:15 AM ET (SpaceNews) <button class="btn btn-link d-inline p-0 font-12 js-toggle-recent-news"> <span class="text-gray-500">...</span><span>(Show more)</span> </button> </span> </div> </div> <div class="rest-of-recent-news-items"> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c623dlz2p55o" rel="nofollow">Rocket firm 'pauses' plan for Highland spaceport in Sutherland</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Dec. 4, 2024, 7:32 AM ET (BBC) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.newsweek.com/new-million-dollar-spaceport-begins-construction-remote-island-1994039" rel="nofollow">New $3 Million Spaceport Begins Construction on Remote Island</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Dec. 2, 2024, 3:56 AM ET (Newsweek) </span> </div> <button class="js-toggle-recent-news d-flex btn btn-unstyled font-14 pr-10 rounded-sm mt-10" aria-label="Toggle additional news items"> Show less <em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_less"></em> </button> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="195893" data-asm-type="video"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="video" video-id="180421"><a data-id="180421" class="gtm-assembly-link d-flex justify-content-center" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9" href="/video/Scotland-home-Shetland-Islands-otter-population/-195893"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/21/180421-138-EECDB60F/Scotland-home-Shetland-Islands-otter-population.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop" alt="Spotting wild otters in the Shetland Islands" loading="lazy"><script type="application/json"> { "sources": [ { "file" : "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/B1zAhzdd.m3u8" } ], "image": "https://cdn.britannica.com/21/180421-138-EECDB60F/Scotland-home-Shetland-Islands-otter-population.jpg" ,"tracks": [ { "file" : "//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/ujA0uFlN", "label": "English" } ] ,"adfile": "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/FIBSeOPH.m3u8" } </script><div class="btn btn-xl btn-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="top: 50%; transform: translateY(-50%)"><em class="material-icons" data-icon="play_arrow"></em></div></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><span class="md-assembly-title font-weight-bold mr-5 d-inline font-sans-serif md-video-caption" video-control="180421">Spotting wild otters in the Shetland Islands</span><span>Learn about the large otter population in Scotland's Shetland Islands.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div><a class="font-14 mt-10 d-inline-block" href="/place/Shetland-Islands-Scotland/images-videos">See all videos for this article</a></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref186558"></span>Shetland Islands</strong>, group of about 100 islands, fewer than 20 of them inhabited, in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Scotland" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Scotland</a>, 130 miles (210 km) north of the Scottish mainland, at the northern extremity of the United Kingdom. They <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="constitute" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/constitute" data-type="MW">constitute</a> the Shetland Islands council area and the historic county of Shetland. Among the settlements on <span id="ref186559"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Mainland-island-Shetland-Islands-Scotland" class="md-crosslink ">Mainland</a>, the largest island, is Scalloway, a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/fishing-recreation" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">fishing</a> port. <span id="ref186560"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Lerwick" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Lerwick</a>, also on Mainland, is the islands’ largest town and commercial and administrative centre.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="195894" data-asm-type="video"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="video" video-id="180422"><a data-id="180422" class="gtm-assembly-link d-flex justify-content-center" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9" href="/video/Killer-whales-waters-Scotland-Shetland-Islands/-195894"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/22/180422-138-6A1BDD9F/Killer-whales-waters-Scotland-Shetland-Islands.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop" alt="Survival in the storm-battered waters of the Shetland Islands" loading="lazy"><script type="application/json"> { "sources": [ { "file" : "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/ZEzAq4LP.m3u8" } ], "image": "https://cdn.britannica.com/22/180422-138-6A1BDD9F/Killer-whales-waters-Scotland-Shetland-Islands.jpg" ,"tracks": [ { "file" : "//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/oCABWRvz", "label": "English" } ] ,"adfile": "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/esdZPF1o.m3u8" } </script><div class="btn btn-xl btn-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="top: 50%; transform: translateY(-50%)"><em class="material-icons" data-icon="play_arrow"></em></div><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">1 of 2</div></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><span class="md-assembly-title font-weight-bold mr-5 d-inline font-sans-serif md-video-caption" video-control="180422">Survival in the storm-battered waters of the Shetland Islands</span><span>Learn about the orcas in the waters off Scotland's Shetland Islands. </span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div><a class="font-14 mt-10 d-inline-block" href="/place/Shetland-Islands-Scotland/images-videos">See all videos for this article</a></figcaption></figure></div><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="281555" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/26/241326-050-C39D55DC/Locator-map-Shetland-Islands.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/540176/281555"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/26/241326-050-C39D55DC/Locator-map-Shetland-Islands.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/26/241326-050-C39D55DC/Locator-map-Shetland-Islands.jpg?w=300" alt="Shetland Islands, Scotland" data-width="2000" data-height="2000" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">2 of 2</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/26/241326-050-C39D55DC/Locator-map-Shetland-Islands.jpg" data-href="/media/1/540176/281555">Shetland Islands, Scotland</a><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph">East of Mainland are the islands of Whalsay and Bressay. North of Mainland lie the islands of Yell, Fetlar, and Unst, the most northerly island. One mile off the coast of Unst is the most northerly point in the United Kingdom, <span id="ref186561"></span>Muckle Flugga—a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/lighthouse" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">lighthouse</a> and group of rocks. <span id="ref186562"></span>Fair Isle, 24 miles (39 km) south of Mainland, belongs to the <span id="ref1265694"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/National-Trust-for-Scotland" class="md-crosslink ">National Trust for Scotland</a> and has an important ornithological observatory. The scenery of the Shetland Islands is wild and beautiful, with deeply indented coasts (the sea lochs, or fjords, are locally called voes) enclosed by steep hills. The winds are nearly <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="continuous" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/continuous" data-type="EB">continuous</a> and strong, and trees are therefore sparse, but the climate is very mild for such a high latitude—only 400 miles (640 km) south of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Arctic-Circle" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Arctic Circle</a>—because of the warming influence of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/North-Atlantic-Current" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">North Atlantic Current</a>, an extension of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Gulf-Stream" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Gulf Stream</a> system.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The main form of agriculture is <span id="ref186563"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/crofting" class="md-crosslink ">crofting</a>, each croft having a few acres of arable land and the right to graze sheep on the “scattald,” or common grazings. The <span id="ref1265695"></span>Shetland breed of sheep produces fine wool that is spun and knitted by the island workers in the distinctive patterns known as Shetland and Fair Isle. Many of the crofts cannot adequately support a family, so islanders seek work in the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/North-Sea" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">North Sea</a> oil industry, abroad, or in the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Royal-Navy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Royal Navy</a>. Fishing has always been important, and crofters fish to <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="supplement" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/supplement" data-type="EB">supplement</a> their diet or their income. The <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/herring" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">herring</a> fishery centred on Lerwick has declined since the mid-20th century, and fishing for other species is now more important. Only after the discovery of oil in the North Sea northeast of Shetland was the long-persisting depopulation slowed. The most-advanced technology entered into Shetland’s traditional way of life when a major oil terminal was built in the 1970s at <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Sullom-Voe" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Sullom Voe</a> in the north of Mainland. <span id="ref1265696"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/pipeline-technology" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Pipelines</a> extend from the North Sea fields to that depot, which is approached by tankers using the sheltered deep water provided by Yell Sound. The oil developments increased the importance of Sumburgh Airport in the southern tip of Mainland, and the economy of the Shetlands has gained by supplying goods and services to the oil industry.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/islands-and-archipelagos" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/81/102281-131-26EFC52A/islet-reef-New-Caledonia.jpg" alt="Island, New Caledonia." class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">Islands and Archipelagos</div> </div> </a><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="278770" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media" data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/06/131706-050-A3B17ADD/map-Shetland-Islands.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/540176/278770"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/06/131706-050-A3B17ADD/map-Shetland-Islands.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/06/131706-050-A3B17ADD/map-Shetland-Islands.jpg?w=300" alt="Shetland Islands" data-width="826" data-height="1600" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/06/131706-050-A3B17ADD/map-Shetland-Islands.jpg" data-href="/media/1/540176/278770">Shetland Islands</a><span>Inset map of the Shetland Islands, United Kingdom. From the 10th edition of the <em>Encyclopædia Britannica</em>, 1902.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Stone circles and brochs (circular stone towers) furnish evidence of prehistoric settlement, probably by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Pict" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Picts</a>. During the 7th and 8th centuries missionaries from <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Ireland" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Ireland</a> or western Scotland began conversion of the population to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Christianity" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Christianity</a>. In the 8th and 9th centuries Shetland was invaded by <span id="ref186564"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Viking-people" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Norsemen</a>, who ruled the islands until the 15th century. The principal language of the islands until the 18th century was Norn, derived from Old Norse, and many Norse customs survive. In 1472 the islands, with Orkney, were annexed to the Scottish crown. The islands have nevertheless stood outside the mainstream of Scottish history and traditions. The Shetland Museum and Archives (2007) in Lerwick contains <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="artifacts" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/artifacts" data-type="MW">artifacts</a> that reflect the islands’ heritage. Area 567 square miles (1,468 square km). Pop. (2001) 21,988; (2006 est.) 21,880.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="md-signature"><a href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</a></span> <span class="md-signature">This article was most recently revised and updated by <a href="/editor/Michele-Metych/9760897">Michele Metych</a>.</span><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article></div> </div></div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":1,"pageId":540176,"pageLength":562,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-131/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.131.7"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-131/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.131.7' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"B","adLeg":"B","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"MEDIUM","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":true} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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Shetland Islands | History, Climate, Map, Population, & Facts | Britannica