Suðuroy

Island of the Faroe Islands
name = Suðuroy

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municipality = 7
area = 163.7
area_rank = 4
population = 5041
population_rank =
population_year = 2004
population_density = 65
location = |

Suðuroy (literally South Island) is the southernmost of the Faroe Islands. The island covers 163.7 km². In 2004 there were 5041 inhabitants, but there has been a gradual decline in the population numbers ever since the 1950s.

These are the settlements of Suðuroy (listed from north to south): Sandvík (re-established as a settlement in the late 19th century) Hvalba, Froðba, Tvøroyri, Trongisvágur, Øravík, Fámjin, Hov, Porkeri, Vágur, Akrar, Lopra and Sumba.

One ancient settlement Víkarbyrgi was abandoned late in the 1990’s. Another settlement Akrarbyrgi was abandoned in medieval times, and legend has it that people in Hørg (in Sumba) can trace their ancestry back to this settlement, which was situated on the southernmost point of the island.

Two more settlements were started in the mid 20th century: Tjaldavík in a bay east of Øravík, and Fámará in a valley west of Vágur, but they have both been abandoned again.

Geography

The highest point of Suðuroy is the mountain Gluggarnir (610 m), but the most famous peak is definitely the mountain of Beinisvørð west of the village Sumba. The Beinisvørð and its beauty has been praised by the local poet Poul F. Joensen (1899-1970). westcoast of Suðuroy, Faroe Islands]

Sport

The oldest sports club in the Faroe Islands, the football club Tvøroyrar Bóltfelag, (TB) was founded in Tvøroyri on May 13th 1892, and is thereby the 9th oldest football club in the Danish Kingdom. There are three other football clubs in Suðuroy, Vágs Bóltfelag, (VB), Royn from Hvalba and the football club from Sumba. These clubs all compete in the Faroese football divisions, and both TB and VB have won the National Championship (TB seven times, the last being in 1987, and VB once in the year 2000); but since the success is lacking in recent years, there is a growing debate about merging the four teams into one, (VB and Sumba have already joined forces for the second year running).

Tourism

Visitors to Suðuroy travel by ferry from Tórshavn. The crossing takes about two hours and if the weather is nice, the trip is beautiful and a fantastic experience in itself.There are scenic views of nine of the total of eighteen islands that make up the Faroese archipelago. They will appear in the following order: Streymoy, Nólsoy, Hestur, Koltur, Sandoy, Skúvoy, Stóra Dímun, Lítla Dímun and Suðuroy.As you travel past the two Dimun islands, the coastline of Suðuroy is in the background.It is possible to go by bus from the harbour of Drelnes to Tvøroyri and all other villages on the island.

From Tvøroyri one can take a nice walk across the mountains to a valley called Hvannhagi. There is a nice view over the valley and the sea from above the valley. It is also possible to go down into the valley by following the track after the gate.

Tvøroyri and Vagur take turns in hosting an annual civic-festival called Joansøka. It can be described as a smaller version of the Olavsøka held in Tórshavn. It runs in late June.

Gallery

External links

* [http://www.suduroy.com/index.php?id=481&L=2 Suðuroy portal] General travel information
* [http://home.worldonline.dk/raf/Faroes/suduroy.html Suðuroy]
* [http://www.psp-info.dk/faroe/suduroy.htm Photos] (Danish)
* [http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Smyril The ferry to Suðuroy]
* [http://heima.olivant.fo/%7Eanfinn/suduroy.htm personal website] with 20 aerial photos of
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/14716771@N05/sets/72157604369438578/ Suðuroy photos]