Muckle Roe
Muckle Roe | |
Main settlement: | Roesound |
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Location | |
Location: | 60°22’12"N, 1°25’12"W |
Grid reference: | HU317650 |
Area: | 6.8 square miles |
Highest point: | Mid Ward, 564 feet |
Data | |
Population: | 104 |
Muckle Roe is an island in Shetland, in Saint Magnus Bay, to the west of Mainland, Shetland. It has a population of around 100 people, who mainly croft and live in the south east of the island [1][2][3] It is not near Little Roe.
The island was known in Old Norse as Mikla Rauðey, which means "Big Red Island".
History
The island is referred to in the Orkneyinga saga.[4]
In 1905, a bridge was built between Muckle Roe, and the Shetland Mainland, over Roe Sound.[3]
Geography and geology
Muckle Roe is approximately 3 miles in diameter, with high cliffs in the south. Its highest point is Mid Ward which reaches 564 feet.
The island's rock is red granite[1] and the dominant feature is an ancient extinct volcano, which together give the island its name; Old Norse for "Big Red Island".[1][3]
There are crofts in the east and south east. The rest of the island is lochan-studded moorland.[5]
Outside links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 1-84195-454-3.
- ↑ Fraser, Allen (2002) The Edinburgh Geologist: Old Norse and Norn names in Shetland. Issue 39 Retrieved 14 April 2007.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Keay, J. & Keay, J. (1994) Collins Encyclopaedia of Scotland. London. HarperCollins.
- ↑ 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
- ↑ "Overview of Muckle Roe". Gazetteer for Scotland. http://www.scottish-places.info/features/featurefirst1102.html. Retrieved 2008-01-06.
Islands of Shetland |
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Inhabited islands: |