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]
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]
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]
60°45′18″N0°50′24″W / 60.75500°N 0.84000°W
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