| Scottish Gaelic name | Mòr-thìr |
|---|---|
| Scots name | Mainland |
| Old Norse name | Megenland/Hrossey |
| Meaning of name | Norse for 'mainland' or 'island of horses' |
 Map of Orkney Islands, mainland highlighted | |
| Location | |
| OS grid reference | HY350158 |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Orkney |
| Area | 52,325 hectares (202 sq mi)[1] |
| Area rank | 6 [2] |
| Highest elevation | Mid Hill 271 metres (889 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Council area | Orkney Islands Council |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 17,162[3] |
| Population rank | 3 [2] |
| Population density | 32.80 people/km2[1][3] |
| Largest settlement | Kirkwall |
 | |
| References | [4][5] |
The Mainland, also known as Hrossey and Pomona, is the main island of Orkney, Scotland. Both of Orkney's burghs, Kirkwall and Stromness, lie on the island, which is also the heart of Orkney's ferry and air connections.
Seventy-five per cent of Orkney's population live on the island, which is more densely populated than the other islands of the archipelago. The lengthy history of the island's occupation has provided numerous important archaeological sites and the sandstone bedrock provides a platform for fertile farmland. There is an abundance of wildlife, especially seabirds.
- ^ a b Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 334
- ^ a b Area and population ranks: there are c. 300 islands over 20 ha in extent and 93 permanently inhabited islands were listed in the 2011 census.
- ^ a b National Records of Scotland (15 August 2013). "Appendix 2: Population and households on Scotland's Inhabited Islands" (PDF). Statistical Bulletin: 2011 Census: First Results on Population and Household Estimates for Scotland Release 1C (Part Two) (PDF) (Report). SG/2013/126. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
- ^ Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7.
- ^ Landranger Maps (2002). "Sheet No.6" (map). www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk. Ordnance Survey.