Balta Sound

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Balta Sound, the sound separating Balta isle from Unst.

Balta Sound is a sound (inlet) on the east coast of the island of Unst in the Shetland Islands, Scotland.[1][2] The sound is sheltered from the North Sea to the east by the uninhabited island of Balta. The sound is subject to daily tides.[3]

The settlement at the west of the sound is Baltasound taking its name from the sound.[4][5] On the land to the south of the Sound is Unst Airport.[6]

History

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In the 19th and early 20th century, Chromate of iron was mined on the north side of Balta Sound and taken away in ships via the Sound to Leith and Bo'ness.[7]

In 1894, Balta sound was described as "altogether about 2 miles long and half a mile wide."[8]

On 12 March 1917, the World War I British E-class submarine HMS E49 was heading out of Balta Sound on patrol when it struck a naval mine laid by German U-boat SM UC-76. It was sunk in the channel between the islands of Huney and Balta with the loss of the entire crew.[9] The site of the wreck is now designated as a war grave. There is a memorial at Hamar, near Baltasound.[10]

Nautical facilities

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There is a harbour facility with anchorages for ships.[11] There is a pier[3] with berths for up to 160 metres in length.[11]

The dept of water in the harbour is given as 5.0 metres.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "Plan of Balta Sound in the Island of Unst, Shetland, by George Thomas (Master, RN)". Admiralty Charts of Scotland, 1795-1904. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
  2. ^ "Baltasound". Shetland Cruise. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Tides for Baltasound Pier, Scotland". BBC Weather. 3 September 2025. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
  4. ^ "Scotland's Landscape : Baltasound". BBC. 1 March 2009. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
  5. ^ "Gazetteer of British Place Names". Gazetteer of British Place Names. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
  6. ^ "Unst Airport from The Gazetteer for Scotland". Gazetteer for Scotland. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
  7. ^ "Balta Sound Mine". Scottish Cave and Mine Database Site Details. 23 October 2020. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
  8. ^ Department, Great Britain Hydrographic (1894). North Sea Pilot. J. D. Potter. p. 68. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
  9. ^ "Submariners head to Shetland to remember HMS E49". Royal Navy. 14 March 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
  10. ^ "HM Submarine E49". Imperial War Museums. 12 March 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
  11. ^ a b c Council, Shetland Islands (22 July 2020). "Small Ports – Shetland Islands Council". Shetland Islands Council. Retrieved 3 September 2025.

60°45′18″N 0°50′24″W / 60.75500°N 0.84000°W / 60.75500; -0.84000