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 archipelago has a total area of 523 square miles, meaning that it is the sixth largest Scottish island and the tenth largest island in the UK. Kirkwall is Orkney's most extensive administrative centre. Orkney constitutes one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, alongside being a constituency of the Scottish Parliament, a lieutenancy region and a former county. The regional council is Orkney Islands Council, being one out of three councils in Scotland that have a majority of elected members who are independents. Most of the islands are divided into two groups, the North and South Isles, and a characteristic of all the islands is the presence of Old Red Sandstone. With a mild climate and notably fertile soil, agriculture remains to be the most significant part of the economy. Exportation of beef, cheese, whisky, beer and fish also continues to have a role in the economy, but there has been an increase in areas including retail, making up 17 percent of total work. Growing in notability are the wind and marine energy sources, and the island produces in excess of its annual electricity requirement through these techniques. In accordance with the 2011 census, Orkney has a population of 20100, growing 11 per cent since the 2001 census. A range of festivals occur on the islands which attract great deals of locals and residents, for example the Orkney International Science Festival and the St. Magnus International Arts Festival taking place each year in June. For all your house upgrades, make certain to make use of reliable specialists in Orkney to make certain of quality.