周辺のスポット/アトラクション・トップ16

A beautiful place with a goosebumps story

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In the often storm-tossed seas of the Atlantic lies the Scapa Flow off the Orkney Islands, which belong to Scotland. A very special stretch of water measuring more than 300 square kilometers, a kind of natural harbor off the two main islands of the Orkneys. But what makes it so unique is underwater. A ship graveyard that is probably one of the most spectacular diving spots in Europe, if not the world. The story of its creation tells of a forgotten chapter of the First World War. According to the town's official website, the name Scapa Flow comes from the Norse word Skalpaflói, which means “The Bay of the Long Isthmus”. Accordingly, the place was first used by the British Admiralty around 1800 as a strategic natural harbor in the Napoleonic Wars. At a depth of up to 40 meters, merchant ships were allowed to anchor here before they set off for the Baltic North Sea ports. But Scapa Flow would not finally take its place in the history books until 1919. During the First World War, the British fleet moved its base to the difficult-to-access Scapa Flow. Old defenses on land were also put back into operation at this time. After Germany had to admit its defeat in the war in 1918, the ships of the German Navy with their crew on board were held there as prisoners of war. And so on June 21, 1919, one of the greatest ship accidents in world history occurred. The word “misfortune” is misleading, because it was actually an ordered tragedy. The commander of the German navy in the Scapa Flow, Admiral Ludwig von Reuter, believed at this point that the peace negotiations with the victorious powers had failed. In order to prevent “his” ships from finally falling into the hands of the enemy, he had them sunk without further ado on his orders. That day, 52 German warships found their watery grave in the waters of Scapa Flow. To date, this is the largest sinking ever recorded.

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On this moorland trail we saw pheasants grouse and sheep

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In season, this crescent beach area is full of wildflowers. Facilities include a parking area and toilet block. Every August the annual Boy's Ploughing Match is held here, where the locals take handmade miniature wooden ploughs to the sand to test their skills.

The Churchill Barriers were built between Mainland & the islands of South Ronaldsay to protect the important navel harbour of Scapa Flow. Block ships were originally used and the sunken remains of some of these are still visible. Nowadays the causeway forms a great road to ride between the islands with nice views and easy access to some stunning beaches.

Scapa Beach at the end of Scapa Bay is a wide sandy beach with views out to Scapa Flow. There is likely to be plenty of sea traffic to watch from oil tankers and fishing boats to windsurfers and dive boats. Take some time to visit the memorial garden at the end of the beach where there is information about the harbours use in the World Wars.

Beautiful hiking trail that leads to Scapa Bay. There are plenty of flowers along the way and impressive pictures of the Kirkwall area.

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