Shetland

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/shetland

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How many people live in Shetland?Approximately 23,190 residents (as of 2024)
2. How big is Shetland?1,467 square kilometers (566 square miles)
3. What is the capital of Shetland?Lerwick, established as the capital in 1708
4. What language do people speak in Shetland?English and Scots, with a distinct Shetland dialect of Scots
5. What are the Shetland Islands and where are they located?The Shetland Islands are a group of islands in the North Atlantic and North Sea. They lie about 80 km northeast of Orkney, 170 km from mainland Scotland, and 220 km west of Norway.
6. Why are the Up Helly Aa festivals important in Shetland?Up Helly Aa festivals celebrate the islands' Viking history and bring the community together in a big, exciting celebration.

Archipelago: A group of islands, often geographically or historically linked, forming a distinct territory.
Norse Colonization: The historical process by which Scandinavian peoples settled and established dominance in regions like Shetland during the Viking Age.
Shetland Dialect: A unique linguistic variation of the Scots language spoken in Shetland, heavily influenced by Old Norse.
North Sea Oil: Petroleum and natural gas reserves found beneath the North Sea, which significantly impacted Shetland's economy from the 1970s onwards.