Geopark Shetland is the name used by the Geopark

Geopark

A Geopark is defined by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in its UNESCO Geoparks International Network of Geoparks programme as follows:...

 formally established in September 2009 on its entry into the European Geoparks Network

European Geoparks Network

The European Geoparks Network, often known as the EGN, is a trans-national partnership of Geoparks across Europe formed in 2000 to provide mutual support to established and prospective Geoparks across the continent...

. The Geopark extends across the entire Shetland archipelago

Archipelago

An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...

 off the north coast of mainland Scotland. It is administered by the Shetland Amenity Trust

Shetland Amenity Trust

The Shetland Amenity Trust is a charitable trust based in Shetland, Scotland. It was formed in 1983.Among the Trust's aims are to preserve and protect the architectural heritage of Shetland and it owns and operates many historical buildings...

 in partnership with organisations such as Scottish Natural Heritage

Scottish Natural Heritage

Scottish Natural Heritage is a Scottish public body. It is responsible for Scotland's natural heritage, especially its natural, genetic and scenic diversity. It advises the Scottish Government and acts as a government agent in the delivery of conservation designations, i.e...

, the Shetland Islands Council

Shetland Islands Council

The Shetland Islands Council is the local authority for Shetland. It was established by the Local Government Act 1973 and is the successor to the former Lerwick Town Council and Zetland County Council...

, Highlands and Islands Enterprise

Highlands and Islands Enterprise

Highlands and Islands Enterprise is the Scottish Government's economic and community development agency for a diverse region which covers more than half of Scotland and is home to around 450,000 people....

 and various community and tourism associations.

Features

Shetland's natural attractions are focussed on its extensive and spectacular coastline, along which its complex geology is magnificently displayed. Of particular note are the cliff section through an extinct volcano

Volcano

2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...

 at Esha Ness in Northmavine

Northmavine

Northmavine is a peninsula of Shetland in Scotland. It is in the north west of the island, and contains the villages of Hillswick, Ollaberry, and North Roe...

, the ocean floor rocks at the Keen of Hamar

Keen of Hamar

Keen of Hamar a National Nature Reserve on Unst, in Shetland, Scotland. The reserve, managed by Scottish Natural Heritage, is primarily of botanical interest, for example for populations of Cerastium nigrescens, a plant unique to Unst....

 national nature reserve

National Nature Reserve

For details of National nature reserves in the United Kingdom see:*National Nature Reserves in England*National Nature Reserves in Northern Ireland*National Nature Reserves in Scotland*National Nature Reserves in Wales...

 on Unst

Unst

Unst is one of the North Isles of the Shetland Islands, Scotland. It is the northernmost of the inhabited British Isles and is the third largest island in Shetland after the Mainland and Yell. It has an area of .Unst is largely grassland, with coastal cliffs...

 and the sand tombolo

Tombolo

A tombolo, from the Italian tombolo, derived from the Latin tumulus, meaning 'mound,' and sometimes translated as ayre , is a deposition landform in which an island is attached to the mainland by a narrow piece of land such as a spit or bar. Once attached, the island is then known as a tied island...

 at St Ninian's Isle

St Ninian's Isle

St Ninian's Isle is a small island connected by the largest active tombolo in the UK to the south-western coast of the Mainland, Shetland, in Scotland. The tombolo, known locally as an ayre, from the Old Norse for 'gravel bank', is 500 metres long. Except at extremely high tides, the sand is above...

 off South Mainland.