Hascosay
Scots name | Hascosay |
---|---|
Old Norse name | Hafskotsey |
Location | |
OS grid reference | HU556930 |
Coordinates | 60°37′00″N 0°59′00″W / 60.61667°N 00.98333°W |
Physical geography | |
Island group | Shetland |
Area | 275 hectares (1.06 sq mi) |
Area rank | 90= [1] |
Highest elevation | 30 metres (98 ft) |
Administration | |
Council area | Shetland Islands |
Country | Scotland |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Demographics | |
Population | 0 |
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References | [2][3][4][5] |
Hascosay (Scots: Hascosay; Old Norse "Hafskotsey"[5]) is a small island lying between Yell and Fetlar in the Shetland Islands, Scotland.
Geography and geology
[edit]The island's rock is coarse micaceous gneiss.[3] It has several pools, but the fresh water in them is frequently contaminated by salt spray. Its area is just over one square mile (2.5 square kilometres).
History
[edit]The population of the island was 42 in 1841, but had shrunk to thirteen within a decade. In 1871, the population numbered 4, and in 1881, the island was uninhabited.[6] The laird, Arthur Nicolson, who had bought it had "cleared" parts of Fetlar, and it is possible that the islanders removed themselves in anticipation of a possible future forcible eviction by this landowner.[3]
Wildlife
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/House_on_Hascosay_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1470084.jpg/220px-House_on_Hascosay_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1470084.jpg)
The island is designated as a Special Area of Conservation on account of its largely undisturbed blanket bog habitat. It is also home to a population of otters.
References
[edit]- ^ Area and population ranks: there are c. 300 islands over 20 ha in extent and 93 permanently inhabited islands were listed in the 2011 census.
- ^ National Records of Scotland (15 August 2013). "Appendix 2: Population and households on Scotland's Inhabited Islands" (PDF). Statistical Bulletin: 2011 Census: First Results on Population and Household Estimates for Scotland Release 1C (Part Two) (PDF) (Report). SG/2013/126. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
- ^ a b c Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004) The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh. Canongate.
- ^ Ordnance Survey
- ^ a b 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
- ^ "Old County of Shetland from the Gazetteer for Scotland".
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
60°37′N 0°59′W / 60.617°N 0.983°W