![The town of Stromness, Orkney Islands, Scotland, UK](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Stromness_-_Orkney_Islands.jpg/400px-Stromness_-_Orkney_Islands.jpg)
Stromness is the second most populated town in Orkney, Scotland. It is in the south-west of Mainland Orkney. The name "Stromness" comes from the Norse Straumsnes. Straum refers to the strong tides that rip past the Point of Ness through Hoy Sound to the south of the town. Nes means "headland". Stromness thus means "headland protruding into the tidal stream".
Photo credit: Pany Goff