Hascosay
Location
Hascosay
Hascosay shown within Shetland
OS grid reference	HU556930
Names
Norse name	Hafskotsey
Area and summit
Area	275 hectares (1.06 sq mi)
Area rank	91=
Highest elevation	30 metres (98 ft)
Population
Population	0
Groupings
Island group	Shetland
Local Authority	Shetland Islands
References	[1][2][3][4]
If shown, area and population ranks are for all Scottish islands and all inhabited Scottish islands respectively. Population data is from 2001 census.

Hascosay (Old Norse "Hafskotsey"^[4]) is a small island lying between Yell and Fetlar in the Shetland Islands, Scotland.

[edit] Geography and geology

The island's rock is coarse micaceous gneiss.^[2]

The island has several pools, but the fresh water in them is frequently contaminated by salt spray.

The area of Hascosay is just over one square mile.

[edit] History

The population of the island was 42 in 1841, but had shrunk to thirteen within a decade. A mere twenty years later, the island was uninhabited. The laird, Arthur Nicholson, 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.^[2]

[edit] Wildlife

House on Hascosay, with the hills of Fetlar 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.

[edit] References

1. ^ 2001 UK Census per List of islands of Scotland
2. ^ ^{a b c} Haswell-Smith, Hamish (2004) The Scottish Islands. Edinburgh. Canongate.
3. ^ Ordnance Survey
4. ^ ^{a b} 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

North Isles, Shetland Islands Inhabited islands Fetlar Unst Yell Other islands Balta Brough Holm Gloup Holm Haaf Gruney Hascosay Huney Linga Muckle Flugga Out Stack Sound Gruney Urie Lingey Uyea Towns and villages Aywick Baltasound Belmont Burravoe Copister Cullivoe Gloup Gutcher Houbie Haroldswick Mid Yell Skaw Ulsta Uyeasound West Sandwick Points of interest Belmont House Brough Lodge Burgi Geos Daal of Lumbister Hermaness Muness Castle Old Haa Museum RAF Saxa Vord Valhalla Brewery

Islands of Scotland Northern Isles Shetland List of Shetland islands Orkney List of Orkney islands Hebrides Outer Hebrides List of Outer Hebrides Inner Hebrides List of Inner Hebrides St Kilda Other Islands of the Clyde Islands of the Forth Outlying Islands Freshwater Islands

Coordinates: 60°37′N 0°59′W / 60.617°N 0.983°W / 60.617; -0.983