Aberdeen is Scotland's third largest city with an official population of 202,370. Nicknames include the Granite City and the Silver City with the Golden Sands. During the mid-18th to mid-20th centuries, Aberdeen's buildings incorporated locally quarried grey granite, whose mica deposits sparkle like silver. The city has a long, sandy coastline. Since the discovery of North Sea oil in the 1970s, other nicknames have been the Oil Capital of Europe or the Energy Capital of Europe.
A Team from the 'Coast' BBC TV series visited Aberdeen yesterday to help locals learn more about the north-east's shore-line.
A discussion chaired by presenter Hermione Cóckburn was held in the Maritime Museum last night as part of a series of events at the venue. These continue today, with people invited to discover more about their local coastline through workshops and hands-on activities exploring boat-making, geology, the effects of wind and waves, and how humans have adapted to the coastal environment.