Hascosay

Hascosay
Norse name Hafskotsey
Location
Hascosay
Hascosay shown within Shetland
OS grid reference HU556930
Physical geography
Island group Shetland
Area 275 hectares (1.06 sq mi)
Area rank 90= [1]
Highest elevation 30 metres (98 ft)
Administration
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Country Scotland
Council area Shetland Islands
Demographics
Population 0
References [2][3][4][5]

Hascosay (Old Norse "Hafskotsey"[5]) is a small island lying between Yell and Fetlar in the Shetland Islands, Scotland.

Geography and geology

The island's rock is coarse micaceous gneiss.[3]

The island has several pools, but the fresh water in them is frequently contaminated by salt spray.

The area of Hascosay is just over one square mile.

History

The population of the island was 42 in 1841, but had shrunk to thirteen within a decade. A mere twenty years later, the island was uninhabited. The laird, Arthur Nicholson, 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

House on Hascosay, with the hills of Fetlar beyond

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

  1. ↑ 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.
  2. ↑ National Records of Scotland (15 August 2013) (pdf) Statistical Bulletin: 2011 Census: First Results on Population and Household Estimates for Scotland - Release 1C (Part Two). "Appendix 2: Population and households on Scotland’s inhabited islands". Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004) The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh. Canongate.
  4. ↑ Ordnance Survey
  5. 1 2 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

Coordinates: 60°37′N 0°59′W / 60.617°N 0.983°W / 60.617; -0.983


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