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.
Viðoy | |
|---|---|
 Stamp FR 349 of Postverk Føroya (issued: 25 May 1999; photo: Per á Hædd) | |
 Location within the Faroe Islands | |
| Coordinates: 62°20′N 6°31′W / 62.333°N 6.517°W | |
| State | Kingdom of Denmark |
| Constituent country | Faroe Islands |
| Municipality seat | Viðareiði |
| Area | |
• Total | 41 km2 (16 sq mi) |
| • Rank | 7 |
| Highest elevation | 841 m (2,759 ft) |
| Population (12-2018) | |
• Total | 605[1] |
| • Rank | 7 |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (GMT) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+1 (EST) |
| Calling code | 298 |
Geography
editThe 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
editThe 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 | Enni | 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
editReferences
edit- ^ Statistical Database
- ^ Swaney, Deanna. Iceland, Greenland & the Faroe Islands (3rd ed.). Lonely Planet Publications. ISBN 0-86442-453-1.
- ^ 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
