the Shetland Islands
/ðə ˈʃetlənd aɪləndz/
/ðə ˈʃetlənd aɪləndz/
(also Shetland
/ˈʃetlənd/
/ˈʃetlənd/
, the Shetlands /ðə ˈʃetləndz/
/ðə ˈʃetləndz/
)- a group of over 100 islands north of Scotland. The islands are governed as a single council area from Lerwick, Shetland's only town and main port. The islands' main industries are farming, fishing and making clothes out of the famous Shetland wool from local sheep. Since the 1970s the islands have become an important centre of the North Sea oil industry.