Balta Sound

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]

Balta Sound, the sound separating Balta isle from Unst.

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

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

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]