Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands

Scapa Flow is a body of water in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, sheltered by the islands of Mainland, Graemsay, Burray, South Ronaldsay and Hoy. At 140 square miles with a sandy bottom and relatively shallow (not deeper than 160 feet and most of it about 70 feet deep), it is one of the great natural harbors/anchorages of the world.

Viking ships anchored in Scapa Flow more than 1000 years ago, but it is best known as the site of the United Kingdom's chief naval base during World War I and World War II. The base was closed in 1956.

The visitor centre is situated on the island of Hoy and is situated in the former naval fuel pumping station and a converted storage tank. The exhibits include a large three dimensional representation of the island and of the ships as they were prior to scuttling.

Things to See & Do
* Scapa Flow Visitor's Center - Hoy
* Scuba Diving
* Hoy Island

General information

Cruise Season - Feb - Dec
Currency - Pound sterling (GBP)
Language - English
Land Area - 18 km²
Population - 20,000 (Orkney Islands)
Electricity - 2 round pins European style
Time - GMT plus zero hours
International Country Telephone Code - + 44

Port Location - The port is located at the island of Hoy.

Travel Links - The island is accessible by local ferry several times daily.

The main airport in Orkney is Kirkwall Airport, operated by Highland and Islands Airports. Loganair, a franchise of Flybe provides services to the Scottish Mainland (Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness), as well as to Sumburgh Airport in Shetland.
Within Orkney, the council operates airfields on most of the larger islands including Stronsay, Eday, North Ronaldsay, Westray, Papa Westray, and Sanday. The shortest scheduled air service in the world, between the islands of Westray and Papa Westray, is scheduled at two minutes duration but can take less than one minute if the wind is in the right direction.

Ferries serve both to link Orkney to the rest of Scotland, and also to link together the various islands of the Orkney archipelago. Ferry services operate between Orkney and the Scottish Mainland.
Inter-island ferry services connect all the inhabited islands to Orkney Mainland, and are operated by Orkney Ferries, a company owned by Orkney Islands Council.