Sandoy

Sandoy Sandø
Island
Sandur on the Island of Sandoy - view from the bay Sandsvágur in the Southeast
Location within the Faroe Islands
Coordinates: 61°51′N 6°47′W / 61.850°N 6.783°W / 61.850; -6.783Coordinates: 61°51′N 6°47′W / 61.850°N 6.783°W / 61.850; -6.783
State	Kingdom of Denmark
Autonomous country	Faroe Islands
Region	Sandoy
Area
• Total	125 km2 (48 sq mi)
Population (2001)
• Total	1,494
• Density	12/km2 (31/sq mi)
Time zone	GMT (UTC+0)
• Summer (DST)	EST (UTC+1)
Calling code	298

Sandoy (Danish: Sandø. English: Sandisland) is the first of the five southern islands that make up the Faroe chain, the fifth biggest of all the Faroe Islands, an autonomous region of the Kingdom of Denmark. It also refers to the region that includes this island along with Skúvoy and Stóra Dímun. As of 2011^[update], the largest population center on the island is the village of Sandur with a population of 599. Other settlements include Skarvanes, Skopun, Skálavík, Húsavík and Dalur.

Sandoy gets its name from the large beach at Sandur, and the general sandy soil of the island. It is the only island with dunes.

There are similarly named islands, Sanday in the Orkney Islands, Sanday in the Inner Hebrides and Sandøy in Norway.

A proposal has been approved by the Faroese parliament to build a tunnel connecting Sandoy with the more populous Streymoy to the north. Construction is not intended to be completed until 2021.

The island is considered the best island for agriculture due to its fertile sandy soil. The largest potato farm in the country is located on the island. And people who have gardening interests have generally an easier time getting plants to grow here.