Back Shetland Afrikaans Islas Shetland AN Geltland ANG شتلاند Arabic Islles Shetland AST Şetland adaları Azerbaijani Šetlanda salas BAT-SMG Шэтландскія астравы Byelorussian Шэтландзкія астравы BE-X-OLD Шетландски острови Bulgarian
Shetland (or the Shetland Islands) is an archipelago, the furthest out part of Scotland in the United Kingdom.
The islands are between the Faroe Islands and the Orkney Islands. They are about 50 miles to the northeast of the Orkney Islands. They are about 100 islands in the group. People live on 16 of them.
The islands form part of the boundary between the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the North Sea to the east.
The largest islands of the group are Mainland, Yell, Unst, Fetlar, Whalsay, and Bressay. In general, the climate of the group is subarctic, and rather bleak.
They used to be called Hjaltland or Zetland. Today, the islands are part of Scotland. The administrative centre is Lerwick.
The economy of the islands is largely based on agriculture. The sheep are known for their fine wool. Other well-known exports are the Shetland ponies and Shetland Sheepdog.
In 1969 crude oil was discovered near the islands, leading to an alternative source of income for them.