Annie Friedlander, age 14, of Burlington, Vt., for her question:

WHERE ARE THE SHETLAND ISLANDS?

The Shetland Islands are owned by Scotland. There are more than 100 islands with most of them located about 120 miles north of the mainland of Scotland. Only 24 of the islands are inhabited.

Largest of the Shetland Islands are Unst, Yell and Mainland. No place on any of the islands is more than three miles from the sea. The area of the entire group is 551 square miles.

Two well known products come from the Shetland Islands: Shetland ponies and Shetland wool. Knitted goods of delicate workmanship and intricate design are made from the wool of the shaggy Shetland sheep.

Rich cod and herring fishing banks of the North Sea provide another important industry of the Shetlands. There is little arable land so farming is not successful.

The population of the Shetland Islands is about 18,000. But each year this population grows smaller as young men leave to seek their fortunes in less severe climates.