Scapa Flow and Beach

We had a few minutes to explore Scapa Beach. Scapa Beach is a white sandy beach located a few miles from Kirkwall. It overlooks the historic waters of Scapa Flow. Due to its sheltered waters, Scapa Flow served as the British Naval Base in both world wars. During WWII, the famous Churchill Barriers were constructed to protect against eastern approaches to Scapa. Scapa is currently home to an oil terminal.

Scapa

Scapa Beach

Look what washed up: sea creatures

Scapa is world famous for scuba diving, particularly for exploring shipwrecks. This is because an entire fleet of German WWI ships was scuttled in Scapa Flow. During the armistice, the Germans didn't want the Allies getting ahold of their ships, so they sunk them. Most of the 52 ships were salvaged and scrapped in the 1920's and 30's, but 7 remain, in addition to two British grave ships. It reminded me of the WWI ships that were sunk in the Potomac: the Ghost Fleet. I kayaked around those a couple of years ago.

Another one of my marks in the sand