Flotta was used extensively by the navy in both World Wars and was important
for boom defences. A large mock military camp was built on the Golta Peninsula
- this can be seen from Hoxa on South Ronaldsay.
The most obvious feature on Flotta now is the oil terminal which receives
crude oil by pipeline from the Piper and Claymore fields in the North sea.
The flare stack, which burns gas given off by the oil, can be seen from
a great distance at night.
Oil tanker in Scapa Flow
(C) Richard Welsby
Photograph courtesy of Richard Welsby
Copyright Orknet 1996