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The North Isles are the northern islands of the Shetland Islands, Scotland. The main islands in the group are Yell, Unst and Fetlar. Sometimes the islands in Yell Sound are included in this group.
Contents
Map of Shetland Islands, United Kingdom
Importance
They are a significant group, since Yell and Unst are the second and third largest islands in the archipelago, and also the third and fourth most populous (Whalsay, which is not in the group, is the second most populous). Combined, their total land area is far larger than the rest of the Shetland Islands (excluding Mainland) combined.
Extreme points
The group also contains the most northerly land of the United Kingdom and Shetland at Out Stack near Muckle Flugga, and its most northerly settlement Skaw on Unst. These also happen to be the most northerly British territorial claims currently in existence, since Canadian independence, in contradistinction to those of Cornwall, which only represent the southernmost parts of the UK, and not those of British overseas territories, such as the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and British Antarctic Territory. In similar fashion, Britain's most northerly maritime claims are also based on these islands, having great effect on its fishing and oil industries.
Fetlar also contains some of the most easterly points of Scotland with the exception of the Out Skerries, and much of Fetlar and Unst are under 350 km from Norway.
Travellers do not encounter any further land masses between Out Stack and the North Pole if heading directly north.
Other British records include -
Ferries
The regular ferries are the most northerly scheduled routes in the British Isles (excluding those going to the Faroes and Iceland). They run between Yell and Unst, Yell and Fetlar and Yell and Mainland.