| Scottish Gaelic name | Mòr-thìr |
|---|---|
| Old Norse name | Megenland |
| Meaning of name | Old Norse for 'mainland' |
 The cliffs of Eshaness, North Mainland | |
| Location | |
 | |
  Mainland Mainland shown within Scotland | |
| OS grid reference | HU414553 |
| Coordinates | 60°18′N 1°18′W / 60.30°N 1.30°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Shetland |
| Area | 96,879 ha (374 sq mi)[1] |
| Area rank | 3 [2] |
| Highest elevation | Ronas Hill 450 m (1,476 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Council area | Shetland Islands |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 18,765[3] |
| Population rank | 2 [2] |
| Population density | 19.41 people/km2[1] |
| Largest settlement | Lerwick |
 | |
| References | [4] |
The Mainland is the main island of Shetland, Scotland. The island contains Shetland's only burgh, Lerwick, and is the centre of Shetland's ferry and air connections.
- ^ a b Haswell-Smith (2004) p. 406
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.