Orkney (), also known as the Orkney Islands, is an archipelago in the Northern Isles of Scotland, situated off the north coast of Great Britain. Orkney is 16 kilometres (10 mi) north of the coast of Caithness and comprises approximately 70 islands, of which 20 are inhabited. The largest island Mainland is often referred to as "the Mainland". It has an area of , making it the sixth-largest Scottish island and the tenth-largest island in the British Isles. The largest settlement and administrative centre is Kirkwall. 

A form of the name dates to the pre-Roman era and the islands have been inhabited for at least 8500 years, originally occupied by Mesolithic and Neolithic tribes and then by the Picts. Orkney was invaded and forcibly annexed by Norway in 875 and settled by the Norse. The Scottish Parliament then re-annexed the earldom to the Scottish Crown in 1472, following the failed payment of a dowry for James III's bride Margaret of Denmark. Orkney contains some of the oldest and best-preserved Neolithic sites in Europe, and the "Heart of Neolithic Orkney" is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Orkney is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, a constituency of the Scottish Parliament, a lieutenancy area, and a historic county. The local council is Orkney Islands Council, one of only three Councils in Scotland with a majority of elected members who are independents.

Answer the following questions:
1. What is the largest island also called?
2. What island group is it part of?
3. Where are they located?
4. Were the islands ever invaded?
5. By whom?
6. And what was the outcome of that?
7. Are they 16 miles north of Cathiness?
8. How many islands make up the group?
9. How many of them have people living there?
10. How long have they been inhabited?
11. Who first lived there?
12. What about after that?
13. Who re-annexed it?
14. How many council areas does scotland have?
15. What is the name of the local council?
16. What sets it apart from most other councils?
17. What place of significance can be found on the islands?
18. WHat was it designated as?
19. What year did the Norse settle there?
20. When was it annexed by the Scottish?

Numbered answers:
1. "the Mainland"
2. the Orkney Islands
3. the Northern Isles of Scotland
4. yes
5. Norway
6. it was settled by the Norse
7. yes
8. approximately 70 islands
9. 20 are inhabited
10. for at least 8500 years
11. Mesolithic and Neolithic tribes
12. the Picts
13. The Scottish Parliament
14. 32
15. Orkney Islands Council
16. a majority of elected members are independents
17. the "Heart of Neolithic Orkney"
18. a UNESCO World Heritage Site
19. in 875
20. in 1472