Yell, Shetland

Yell
Old Norse nameJala
Meaning of namePossibly of Pictish origin or from Old Norse for 'barren'
Location
Yell is located in Shetland
Yell
Yell
Yell shown within Shetland
OS grid referenceHU492935
Coordinates60°37′N 1°06′W / 60.62°N 1.1°W / 60.62; -1.1
Physical geography
Island groupShetland
Area21,211 ha (81.9 sq mi)
Area rank11 [1]
Highest elevationHill of Arisdale 210 m (689 ft)
Administration
Council areaShetland Islands
CountryScotland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Demographics
Population966[2]
Population rank15 [1]
Population density4.5 people/km2[2][3]
Largest settlementMid Yell
Lymphad
References[3][4][5]

Yell is one of the North Isles of Shetland, Scotland. In the 2011 census it had a usually resident population of 966. It is the second largest island in Shetland after the Mainland with an area of 82 square miles (212 km2),[3][6] and is the third most populous in the archipelago (fifteenth out of the islands in Scotland), after the Mainland and Whalsay.[3]

The island's bedrock is largely composed of Moine schist with a north–south grain, which was uplifted during the Caledonian mountain building period.[7] Peat covers two-thirds of the island to an average depth of 1.5 metres (4.9 feet).

Yell has been inhabited since the Neolithic times, and a dozen broch sites have been identified from the pre-Norse period. Norse rule lasted from the 9th to 14th centuries until Scottish control was asserted.[3] The modern economy of the island is based on crofting, fishing, transport and tourism. The island claims to be the "Otter Capital of Britain" and has a diverse bird life including breeding populations of great and Arctic skuas.[8] At times, whales and dolphins also appear off the coast.[9]

Notable buildings on the island include the 17th-century Old Haa of Brough in Burravoe, a merchant's house now converted to a museum and visitor centre.[10] There are various folk tales and modern literary references to island life.

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ a b c d e Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7.
  4. ^ Ordnance Survey. OS Maps Online (Map). 1:25,000. Leisure.
  5. ^ Anderson, Joseph (Ed.) (1893) Orkneyinga Saga. Translated by Jón A. Hjaltalin & Gilbert Goudie. Edinburgh. James Thin and Mercat Press (1990 reprint). ISBN 0-901824-25-9
  6. ^ Penrith, James & Deborah (2007) Orkney & Shetland (part of The Scottish Islands series). Richmond. Crimson Publishing.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Blackadder was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Gooders, J. (1994) Field Guide to the Birds of Britain and Ireland. London. Kingfisher. Pages 147-9
  9. ^ "A Guide to Scotland's Main Islands 22 July 2020". Best-of-scotland.co.uk. 22 July 2020. Archived from the original on 4 April 2021. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference Keay was invoked but never defined (see the help page).