Vágar
|
Vágar Vågø |
|
|---|---|
| Island | |
 Location within the Faroe Islands |
|
| Coordinates: 62°05′N 7°16′W / 62.083°N 7.267°WCoordinates: 62°05′N 7°16′W / 62.083°N 7.267°W | |
| State | Kingdom of Denmark |
| Constituent country | Faroe Islands |
| Region | Vágar |
| Area | |
| • Total | 176 km2 (68 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 3 |
| Highest elevation | 722 m (2,369 ft) |
| Population (2014) | |
| • Total | 3,063 |
| • Density | 17/km2 (45/sq mi) |
| Time zone | GMT (UTC+0) |
| • Summer (DST) | EST (UTC+1) |
| Calling code | 298 |
Vágar (Danish: Vågø) is one of the 18 islands in the archipelago of the Faroe Islands and the most westerly of the large islands. With a size of 178 square kilometres (69 square miles) (about 70 sq. miles), it ranks number three, behind Streymoy and Eysturoy. Vágar region also comprises the island of Mykines.
The Vagar island shape is very distinct, since it resembles a dog's head. Sørvágsfjørður is the mouth and Fjallavatn is the eye.
Vágar is the first port of call for most foreigners travelling to the Faroe Islands, as it is home to the islands’ only airport, Vágar Airport. An airfield was built there during World War II by the British, who occupied the Faroe Islands with the islanders' consent. After the war it lay unused for about 20 years, but was then put back into service and expanded/modernised as required. It handles about 170,000 passengers a year. Such large numbers by Faroese standards put a considerable strain on transport facilities, with the result that a road tunnel (Vágatunnilin) measuring 5 km (3 mi) in length and running under the sea now connects Vágar with the two largest islands in the Faroes and thus the capital Tórshavn.
The tourist attractions on Vágar are excellent and perhaps the best in the Faroe Islands. The country’s two largest lakes - Leitisvatn and Fjallavatn - are to be found there, and the tourist association organises excursions throughout the summer.
Vágar has three large villages: Miðvágur, Sandavágur and Sørvágur and three small ones: Gásadalur, Bøur and Vatnsoyrar. Earlier there were two more villages: Slættanes, which was abandoned in 1965 and Víkar, which was abandoned in 1910.
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Wikipedia