Balta, Shetland Explained
| Location Map: | Scotland Shetland |
| Caption: | Balta shown within Shetland |
| Coordinates: | 60.7497°N -0.7911°W |
| Gridreference: | HP661081 |
| Official Name: | Balta |
| Scots Name: | Balta |
| Norse Name: | Baltey |
| Area: | 800NaN0 |
| Area Rank: | 162 |
| Highest Elevation: | 440NaN0 |
| Population: | 0 |
| Island Group: | Shetland |
| Local Authority: | Shetland Islands |
| References: | [1] |
| Module: | | Embed: | yes | | Qid: | Q29032666 | | Yearbuilt: | 1895 (first) | | Yearlit: | 2004 (current) | | Automated: | 2004 | | Foundation: | concrete base | | Construction: | metal skeletal tower (current)
concrete tower (first) | | Shape: | quadrangular tower covered by aluminium panels with light on the top (current)
cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern (first)[2] | | Marking: | white tower | | Height: | 6.5m (21.3feet) | | Focalheight: | 17m (56feet) | | Range: | white:
red: [3] | | Characteristic: | Fl WR 10s. |
|
Balta (Scots: Balta; Old Norse: "Baltey") is an uninhabited island in Shetland, Scotland.
Geography
Balta lies off the east coast of Unst and Balta Sound. It has an area of 80ha.
There is a natural arch on the eastern side of the island.
Balta Island Seafare and Skaw Smolts are the most northerly fish farm and fish hatchery in Britain.[4]
History
Historic remains on the island include the ruins of a broch and of a Norse chapel dedicated to Saint Sunniva. There are no census records of more recent inhabitation.
John MacCulloch visited Balta in May 1820 to carry out the Trigonometrical Survey for the Ordnance Survey. Balta was the northernmost station of the zenith sector.[5]
Lighthouse
The Balta Light, at the southern tip of the island was one of the first concrete structures in Shetland. The lighthouse was designed by David Stevenson and built in 1895. It was demolished in 2003 and replaced by a small solar-powered light.[6]
See also
External links
60.75°N -47°W
Notes and References
- Web site: Sheet 1 - Shetland Islands (Yell & Unst) - Ordnance Survey One-inch to the mile maps of Great Britain, Seventh Series, 1952-1961. National Library of Scotland. 2016-01-23. Ordnance Survey.
- 2016-05-30.
- http://www.lighthousedigest.com/digest/database/uniquelighthouse.cfm?value=7337 Balta Sound Light
- Web site: Balta Island Seafare. 2008-01-05. https://web.archive.org/web/20080218221141/http://www.organic.shetland.co.uk/. 18 February 2008. dead.
- Derek Flinn. John MacCulloch, MD, FRS and his Geological Map of Scotland: His Years in the Ordnance. 1795 - 1826. Notes and Records of the Royal Society of London. 91. 1981. The Royal Society. London. 531659. 10.1098/rsnr.1981.0006. 36. 1. 11610947. 27602718.
- News: Historic lighthouse to go . shetland-news.co.uk/Wayback Machine . 10 November 2003 . Hans J. . Marter . 15 October 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070927003951/http://www.shetland-news.co.uk/archives/pages/news%20stories/2003/November%202003/historic_lighthouse_to_go.htm . September 27, 2007 .
