Population:	17 (in 2007)
Postal Code (Zip):	FO 387
Location	62°6′44"N 7°26′5"W
Country	Faroe Islands
Municipality	Sørvágs (List of municipalities Municipalities of the Faroe Islands The Faroe Islands are administratively divided in 30 municipalities , with about 120 cities and villages. Until December 31, 2008, there were 34 municipalities, and until December 31, 2004, there were 48 municipalities... )

Gásadalur is located on the west-side of Vágar

Vágar

Vágar 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 km² , it ranks number three, behind Streymoy and Eysturoy....

, Faroe Islands

Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...

, and enjoys a panoramic view over the island of Mykines

Mykines

Mykines is the western-most of the main 18 islands in the Faroe Islands. See also the only settlement on the island, Mykines.Only 11 people live in village Mykines all year around. The oldest inhabitant is 75 and the youngest is 6 years old....

.
Gásadalur is located on the edge of Mykinesfjørður, surrounded by the highest mountains on Vágar. Árnafjall

Árnafjall

Árnafjall is the highest mountain on the island of Vágar in the Faroe Islands. The highest point is 722 meters above sea level. The name Árnafjall translates to the eagles mountain. The mountain lies on the west side of Vágar close to the village of Gásadalur.There is also a mountain Árnafjall on...

 towers to a height of 722 metres to the north, and Eysturtindur

Eysturtindur

Eysturtindur is the second highest point - 714 m - on the island of Vágoy, Faroe Islands....

 to the east is 715 metres high. Here too, the view south to Tindhólmur

Tindhólmur

Tindhólmur is an islet on the southside of Sørvágsfjørður, west of Vágar in the Faroe Islands. It has its name from the five peaks, which are named Ytsti, Arni, Lítli, Breiði, Bogdi...

 and Gáshólmur

Gáshólmur

Gáshólmur is a small islet on the southside of Sørvágsfjørður in the Faroe Islands. To the east of the islet lies another islet, Tindhólmur. The islet is uninhabited, and the only living creatures are seabirds and sheep rams, which are placed on the islet each year by the locals in Sørvágur.*...

 is quite magnificent.

The landing site is very poor, because it is located somewhat higher than the seashore. So if the residents wanted to fish they were obliged to keep their boats near Bøur

Bøur

Bøur is a village in the Sørvágs Kommuna of the Faroe Islands, 4 km west of Sørvágur, with a population of 70 . Its location is and its postal code is FO 386....

. In 1940, during the British occupation, a stairway was built from the beach up to the village.

In order to reach any of the other villages, they had to take the strenuous route over mountains more than 400 metres high. This explains why the village population has become smaller and smaller. In 2002 there were only sixteen people living in Gásadalur, and several of the houses stand empty today.

In 2004 a tunnel was blasted through the rock, and it is possible to drive through by car. The residents hope this will mean that the village population will increase again. There are good opportunities for farming, and the same number of fields as in Bøur, but here only a few are royal estate. Most of them are freehold land.

Gæsa or Goose?

There is a story that the village was named after a woman called Gæsa, who came from Kirkjubøur

Kirkjubøur

Kirkjubøur is the southernmost village on Streymoy, Faroe Islands and the country's most important historical site.It is located on the west coast and has a view towards the islands Hestur and Koltur.-History:...

. She had eaten meat during the Lent fast, and for this unholy deed all her property was confiscated. She fled to the valley on Vágar, which was named after her. Most other village stories are about spirits and elves

Huldufólk

Huldufólk are elves in Icelandic folklore. Building projects in Iceland are sometimes altered to prevent damaging the rocks where they are believed to live. According to these Icelandic folk beliefs, one should never throw stones because of the possibility of hitting the huldufólk...

.

A more likely explanation is that Gásadalur (Goose

Goose

The word goose is the English name for a group of waterfowl, belonging to the family Anatidae. This family also includes swans, most of which are larger than true geese, and ducks, which are smaller....

Valley) is named after the wild geese, which from ancient times have travelled to the valley.

External links

• Faroestamps.fo (public domain)
• Faroeislands.dk: Gásadalur Images and description of all cities on the Faroe Islands.