Orkney is an island chain in the Northern Isles of Scotland. It is located 10 miles north of the coast of Caithness and consists of 70 islands, of which 20 have settlements. The island chain has a total area of 523 square miles, meaning that it is the 6th largest Scottish island and the tenth largest island in the UK. Kirkwall is Orkney's most considerable administrative centre. Orkney constitutes one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, together with being a constituency of the Scottish Parliament, a lieutenancy region and an one-time county. The regional council is Orkney Islands Council, being one out of 3 councils in Scotland that have a majority of elected members who are independents. Most of the islands are divided into 2 groups, the North and South Isles, and a feature of all the islands is the existence of Old Red Sandstone. With a moderate climate and considerably fertile soil, farming continues to be the most substantial part of the economy. Exportation of beef, cheese, whisky, beer and fish additionally continues to have a role in the economy, however there has been an increase in areas including retail, making up 17 percent of total employment. Raising in prominence are the wind and marine energy sources, and the island produces more than its annual electricity requirement through these techniques. According to the 2011 census, Orkney has a population of 20100, growing 11 percent from the 2001 census. A range of festivals occur on the islands which attract large numbers of residents and residents, for instance the Orkney International Science Festival and the St. Magnus International Arts Festival happening annually in June. For all your home upgrades, make sure to make use of reliable professionals in Orkney to make certain of quality.