Rysa Little, commonly referred to as Rysa, is an uninhabited island in the Orkney archipelago in Scotland. It is approximately 32 hectares (79 acres) in area, and rises to 20 metres (66 feet) above sea level.
Old Norse name | Hreysi |
---|---|
Meaning of name | Old Norse and English meaning 'little heap of stones'. |
Rysa Little viewed from Pegal Head on Hoy | |
Location | |
OS grid reference | ND310976 |
Coordinates | 58°52′N 3°12′W / 58.86°N 3.20°W |
Physical geography | |
Island group | Orkney |
Area | 32 hectares (0.12 sq mi) |
Highest elevation | 20 metres (66 ft) |
Administration | |
Council area | Orkney Islands |
Country | Scotland |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Demographics | |
Population | 0 |
References | [1][2] |
It is situated in the Scapa Flow just offshore from the much larger island of Hoy and nearby is the islet of Cava. Between Rysa Little and Fara lies Gutter Sound, the scene of the mass-scuttling of the interned German Imperial High Seas Fleet in 1919.
Many of the smaller South Isles of Orkney lost their resident populations during the course of the twentieth century, but Rysa Little has not been inhabited since earlier times.[3]
See also
editFootnotes
edit- ^ Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004). The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh: Canongate. ISBN 978-1-84195-454-7.
- ^ Ordnance Survey
- ^ Wenham, Sheena, The South Isles in Omand, Donald (ed.) (2003) The Orkney Book. Edinburgh, Birlinn. Page 208.
58°51′36″N 3°11′45″W / 58.86000°N 3.19583°W