Orkney & Shetland: Landscapes in Stone

The archipelagos of Orkney and Shetland were formed by dramatic events in Earth's history, including the splitting of a mountain range and the formation of the North Atlantic Ocean. Lake Orcadie was a freshwater lake that existed for 10 million years and was home to primitive fish species. Later, the area was submerged beneath ice sheets during the last Ice Age, leaving an indelible mark on the landscapes of both island groups.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 48 pages
Publication date: 11 July 2019
Publisher: Birlinn General

The archipelagos of Orkney and Shetland are the products of some of the most dramatic events in 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.

Weight: 180g
Dimension: 167 x 230 x 4 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781780276076