- Hov, Faroe Islands
*Population: 133
*Postal code (Zip): FO 960
*Location: coord|61|30|30|N|6|45|29|W|
*Municipality: HovsHov is a village located on Suðuroy’s east coast, in the
Faroe Islands ; it is frequently mentioned in the country's history.The wooden church in Hov was originally built in Vágur in 1862. It was moved to Hov in 1942. Sea farming has been practised in Hov since the 1980s.According to the Faroese Sagas and local tradition, the first Viking settler on Suðuroy established a farm at Hov, which is said to be named after his pagan hoof! His grave is at "undir Homrum" in Hov and is the only chieftain burial site to be found in the Faroes. Hov lies in the middle of the island and the area is flat and wide with a good view out to sea. This enabled Suðuroy’s first settlers to follow what was happening in the sea. The Viking Havgrimur who was chief of half of the country lived in Hov in the 10th century. His burial plot is located in the hills above the village, but was largely destroyed when opened up by amateur archaeologists in 1834.
North of Hov are interesting basalt columns arranged along the hills.
West of Hov is a waterfall with the name Foldarafossur, on the river Hovsá, which runs from Vatnsnes and is the line of demarcation between the villages of Porkeri and Hov. The waterfall is formed at the place where the river runs over the edge at Foldarshamri, and a bit further to the south there is a mountain pass which is called Foldarsskarð. These three place names all have the same origin, and linguists think that the name comes from the soil (in Faroese also foldin) below these localities.
About 30 years ago, the electricity company SEV started building a hydroelectric plant in Hovsdal, and a dam was built approx. ½ km west of Foldarafoss. Since then the waterfall does not have the same power as before, but if it rains a lot, and water flows out over the dam, the waterfall may still be strong.
ee also
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List of towns in the Faroe Islands External links
* [http://www.faroeislands.dk/pages/HovIndex.htm Faroeislands.dk: Hov] Images and description of all cities on the Faroe Islands.
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