Sumba, Faroe Islands

. It is located in the Sumbiar municipality.

The village, as of 2006, had a population of 245. The village's postal code is FO 970.

Residents of the village are known as "Sumbingar". The name Sumba derives from the old name Sunnbøur. A high mountain separates the village from the other settlements of the island. The village lies on the west coast as the only one except from Fámjin. Sumba is said to be one of the oldest villages in the Faroe Islands. Excavations have shown traces from people from the 7th century. Sumba is an impressive village in its natural setting. The church in Sumba is from 1887.

The people of Sumba have evolved a very special way to dance the Faroese chain dance.

The church in Sumba is from 1887.

Sumba lies behind high mountains and it used to be difficult to reach in wintertime when the storms raged. In 1997 a tunnel was blown through the mountains from Lopra to Sumba. This makes life easier for people in Sumba who work in Vágur.

South in the middle of Lopra you will encounter a fork in the road. One way leads to the old, but passable mountain road to Sumba, the other leads to the long tunnel through the mountain, which is the more direct route to Sumba. If you take the mountain road, stop near the birdscliff Beinisvørð. From top, there is a magnificent view over the sea and rocks deep below. The cape of Beinisvørð rises vertically 470 meters from the sea. It is possible to climb Beinisvørð from the backside even if it is pretty steep. In 1975 part of the top fell into the sea.

Gallery

References

* In Place: Spatial and Social Order in a Faeroe Islands Community, by Dennis Gaffin ISBN 0881338796.

External links

* [http://community.webshots.com/album/552879137JxfBXp?start=24 Webshots gallery with photos from Sumba]

ee also

* List of towns in the Faroe Islands