What is Orkney Islands?
{{Infobox Scottish island | | official_name = Orkney |image_flag = 2007 Flag of Orkney.svg |flag_caption = [[Flag of Orkney|Flag]] |coat_caption = Coat of arms |Map=Orkney Islands UK relief location map.jpg |GridReference= |coordinates={{Coord|59|N|3|W|type:isle_region:GB_dim:500000|display=title,inline}} |celtic name= Arcaibh |norse name= |meaning of name= |island group= [[Northern Isles]] |area= {{convert|990|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} |area rank= |highest elevation= |Population = 21,349 (2011 census) |population density= {{convert|52|/sqmi|/km2}} |population rank= |main settlement= [[Kirkwall]] |local authority=[[Orkney Islands Council]] |references= }} The '''Orkney Islands''' (often also called only '''Orkney''') is an [[archipelago]] in the [[Northern Isles]] of [[Scotland]], [[United Kingdom]]. It is about 16 kilometres north of [[Caithness]]. 20 of the about 70 islands have people living on them.<ref>Haswell-Smith (2004) pp. 336-403.</ref><ref>Wickham-Jones (2007) p. 1 states there are 67 islands.</ref> The administrative centre is [[Kirkwall]] (with about 8000 people living there). The next largest settlements are [[Stromness]] (2000 people) and [[St. Margaret's Hope]] (with about 550 people). In addition to the [[mainland]], most of the islands are in two groups, the North and South Isles. All of them are made of [[sandstone]]. The [[climate]] is mild and the [[soil]] is [[fertile]]. Most of the land is farmed and [[agriculture]] is the main source of income for the [[economy]]. There are many birds and fish. In 2023 there were proposals that the islands could change their status in the UK, to be more like the [[Isle of Man]] or even become a self-governing territory of [[Norway]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=2023-07-02|title=Orkney council to look at proposals to become territory of Norway|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-66066448|access-date=2023-07-02}}</ref> == Transportation == Ferry services go much of the time to [[Lerwick]] (in [[Shetland]])