Hascosay

{{Infobox Scottish island |

|location_map = Scotland Shetland

|caption=Hascosay shown within Shetland

|coordinates = {{coord|60.61667|-00.98333|display=inline}}

|GridReference=HU556930

|celtic name=

|scots name=Hascosay

|norse name=Hafskotsey

|meaning of name=

|area= {{convert|275|ha|sqmi}}

|area rank=90=

|highest elevation= {{convert|30|m|ft|0}}

|Population=0

|population rank=

|main settlement=

|island group=Shetland

|local authority=Shetland Islands

|references={{NRS1C}}Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004) The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh. Canongate.[http://www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/ Ordnance Survey]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}}

}}

Hascosay ({{langx|sco|Hascosay}}; Old Norse "Hafskotsey") 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. It has several pools, but the fresh water in them is frequently contaminated by salt spray. Its area is just over {{convert|1|sqmi|km2|round=0.5|abbr=off|spell=in}}.

History

The population of the island was 42 in 1841, but had shrunk to thirteen within a decade. In 1871, the population numbered 4, and in 1881, the island was uninhabited.{{Cite web|url=http://www.scottish-places.info/counties/countyhistory27.html|title=Old County of Shetland from the Gazetteer for Scotland}} The laird, Arthur Nicolson, 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.

Wildlife

File:House on Hascosay - geograph.org.uk - 1470084.jpg 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

Category:Sites of Special Scientific Interest in Shetland

Category:Uninhabited islands of Shetland

Category:Former populated places in Scotland

Category:Special Areas of Conservation in Scotland