Out Stack facts for kids
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| OS grid reference | HP612202 |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 60°51′37″N 0°52′27″W / 60.8603°N 0.8741°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Shetland |
| Highest elevation | 27 m (89 ft) |
| Administration | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | Scotland |
| Council area | Shetland Islands |
| Demographics | |
| Population | 0 |
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Out Stack or Ootsta is a tiny island in Shetland, Scotland. It is the most northerly point of both the United Kingdom and the British Isles. People have called it "the full stop at the end of Great Britain" because it's the very last bit of land in that direction.
This small island is located about 600 m (2,000 ft) northeast of Muckle Flugga. It is also about 1.8 miles (2.9 km) north of the larger island of Unst. Out Stack is one of the North Isles in the Shetland Islands. It is part of the Hermaness National Nature Reserve. No one lives on Out Stack, and there is no land directly north of it until you reach the North Pole.
What is Out Stack?
Out Stack is mostly a rocky outcrop, which means it's a piece of rock sticking out of the sea. It is not big enough for people to live on, so it is uninhabited. The saying "the full stop at the end of Britain" means it's the very last piece of land you would see if you were traveling north from Great Britain. If you sailed straight north from Out Stack, you would not find any more land until you reached the North Pole.
Lady Franklin's Special Visit
In the mid-1800s, a brave woman named Lady Franklin visited Out Stack. She was the wife of Arctic explorer Sir John Franklin. Her husband had gone on a famous expedition to explore the Arctic, but his ships and crew disappeared.
News about the sad fate of the Franklin expedition reached Stromness, Orkney, where Lady Franklin was living in 1853 or 1854. After hearing this news, she traveled to Out Stack. She wanted to stand on the northernmost point of the British Isles, the last bit of land before the vast Arctic where her husband had been lost.
Hermaness National Nature Reserve
Out Stack is part of the Hermaness National Nature Reserve. A National Nature Reserve is a special area protected for its wildlife and natural beauty. This reserve includes the Muckle Flugga rocks, Out Stack itself, and the tall cliffs and moorland (open, wild land) of Hermaness. It is an important place for seabirds and other wildlife.
