When studying the UK map, you may not notice it at first. However, on the top right there is an archipelago of about 100 islands along the way to Scotland and Norway. Together they formed Shetland, a largely treeless land that first settled in the Neolithic age six thousand years ago. Shetland’s population of just 23,000 highlights its remoteness as the northernmost border of Britain.
But from thriving Viking-era culture to secret special operations against Nazi-occupied Norway, Shetland has always exceeded its weight. Even today, when Shetland evokes the idea of ​​a long-running TV detective series, wool, ponies, strong winds, intense winters, it reminds us that it is the hardiness of people and their group-oriented culture, within the isolated and glorious nature.
With a 1,700-mile coastline, aquaculture (salmon and mussel farms) appear in protected bays throughout the island, but it’s no surprise that fishing remains Shetland’s main industry. The discovery of North Sea oil in the 1960s and the economic boom that it caused 10 years later brought new wealth…
Source: Stories by Jeff Miller on Medium – jeffmiller-50455.medium.com
