Pool of Virkie facts for kids
The Pool of Virkie is a natural body of water in the area of Dunrossness, located in the southern part of Mainland, Shetland. It is a tidal lagoon, which means its water level changes with the ocean tides.
Contents
History of the Pool of Virkie
A Busy Trading Port
Long ago, in the late 1400s and early 1500s, the Pool of Virkie was much deeper than it is today. This made it a very important place for trade. It became the main trading center in southern Shetland for the Hanseatic League. The Hanseatic League was a powerful group of merchant cities in northern Europe. They traded many goods across the sea.
Why Was it Called the Dutch Pool?
Because of all this trade, the Pool of Virkie became known as the "Dutch Pool." This might sound confusing, but it was because local people pronounced the German word Deutsch (meaning German) as "Dutch." The actual traders from the Netherlands were called "Hollanders."
Clues from the Past: Flint Stones
If you look around the shores of the Pool, you might find Flint stones. Flint does not naturally occur in Shetland. So, how did it get there? It's thought that these stones were used as ballast on the trading ships. Ballast is heavy material, like stones, that ships carry to help them stay stable in the water. When the ships arrived in Shetland, they would unload their goods and then throw out the ballast stones to make room for new cargo.
How the Pool Changed Over Time
By the end of the 1500s, the Pool started to fill up with sand and mud. This process is called silting up. Because of this, the Pool became much shallower, similar to how it looks today. Now, ships can only anchor in a small area towards the east end. There is also a modern area called the Virkie Marina, which was built in the 1980s.
Wildlife at the Pool of Virkie
A Haven for Birds
The Pool of Virkie is a fantastic place for bird watching. When the tide goes out, a large area of mudflats is uncovered. This area is full of food for many different types of birds. Because of this, it has become a very important spot for birds in the South Mainland of Shetland. The Pool is also very close to Sumburgh Airport.
See Also
In Spanish: Pool of Virkie para niños
