The archipelagos of Orkney and Shetland are the products of some of the
most dramatic events which have occurred in the Earth's history.
The Shetlands are the eroded roots of a vast mountain range that once
soared to Himalayan heights and extended from Scandinavia to the
Appalachians. Around 65 million years ago, this mighty chain was split
asunder by the shifting of the Earth's tectonic plates, and the North
Atlantic Ocean was formed. In earlier times, the area was occupied by a
huge freshwater lake - Lake Orcadie - which existed for almost 10
million years and was home to a wide range of primitive species of fish.
Later, during the last Ice Age, the area was completely submerged
beneath ice sheets which left an indelible mark on the landscapes of
both island groups.
This book tells the incredible geological story of the most northerly
outposts of the British Isles.