Viðoy

Coordinates: 62°20′N 6°31′W / 62.333°N 6.517°W / 62.333; -6.517
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Viðoy
Stamp FR 349 of Postverk Føroya (issued: 25 May 1999; photo: Per á Hædd)
Stamp FR 349 of Postverk Føroya (issued: 25 May 1999; photo: Per á Hædd)
Location within the Faroe Islands
Location within the Faroe Islands
Coordinates: 62°20′N 6°31′W / 62.333°N 6.517°W / 62.333; -6.517
StateKingdom of Denmark
Constituent countryFaroe Islands
Municipality seatViðareiði
Area
 • Total41 km2 (16 sq mi)
 • Rank7
Highest elevation
841 m (2,759 ft)
Population
 (12-2018)
 • Total605[1]
 • Rank7
Time zoneUTC+0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (EST)
Calling code298

Viðoy (Faroese pronunciation: [ˈviːjɔɪ], Danish: Viderø) is the northernmost island in the Faroe Islands, located east of Borðoy to which it is linked via a causeway. The name means wood island, despite the fact that no trees grow on the island; the name relates to the driftwood that floats in from Siberia and North America.

Geography[edit]

The island has two settlements: Hvannasund on the south-west coast and Viðareiði on the north-west coast, the northernmost settlement in the Faroes. A road along the west coast of the island connects the two. The island is connected by a road causeway from Hvannasund to Norðdepil on Borðoy, and a bus service from Klaksvík runs across the causeway to the island.[2]

Important bird area[edit]

The island's northern and eastern coast has been identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International because of its significance as a breeding site for seabirds, especially European storm petrels (500 pairs), black-legged kittiwakes (5300 pairs), Atlantic puffins (25,000 pairs), common guillemots (6700 individuals) and black guillemots (200 pairs).[3]

Mountains[edit]

Rank Name Height (m)
3 Villingadalsfjall 841
24 Nakkurin (norðari) 754
29 Malinsfjall 750
52 Filthatturin 688
53 Oyggjarskoratindur 687
67 Enniberg 651
84 Sneis 634
116 Tunnafjall 593
147 Talvborð 557
174 Mølin 511
192 Nakkurin 481

Viðoy has eleven mountains, of which Villingadalsfjall is the northernmost peak in the Faroes. The north coast also has the Enniberg cliff, which at 750 m is the second-highest sea-cliff in Europe (after Hornelen, in Norway). The mountains are shown with their overall rank in the Faroe Islands.

See also[edit]

List of mountains of the Faroe Islands

References[edit]

  1. ^ Statistical Database
  2. ^ Swaney, Deanna. Iceland, Greenland & the Faroe Islands (3rd ed.). Lonely Planet Publications. ISBN 0-86442-453-1.
  3. ^ BirdLife International. (2012). Important Bird Areas factsheet: Vidoy.

External links[edit]

  • Media related to Viðoy at Wikimedia Commons
  • The dictionary definition of Viðoy at Wiktionary
  • Personal website with 6 aerial photos of Viðoy