Hestur is an island in central 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...

, located to the west of Streymoy

Streymoy

Streymoy is the largest and most populated island of the Faroe Islands. The capital, Tórshavn is located there. The name means "island of currents".- Geography :...

 and to the south of Koltur

Koltur

Koltur is an island in the Faroe Islands, located to the west of Streymoy and to the north of Hestur. The island has just one settlement: Koltur. It was abandoned in the 1980s by the sheep-farmers whose flocks grazed on the southern part of the island. Since then only two people have returned , and...

. Hestur means horse in Faroese

Faroese language

Faroese , is an Insular Nordic language spoken by 48,000 people in the Faroe Islands and about 25,000 Faroese people in Denmark and elsewhere...

. Located on the west coast is a large colony of guillemot

Guillemot

Guillemots is the common name for several species of seabird in the auk family . In British use, the term comprises two genera: Uria and Cepphus. In North America the Uria species are called "murres" and only the Cepphus species are called "guillemots"...

. In the north of Hestur there is a moorland with four small lakes, of which Fagradalsvatn is the largest. At Haelur, Hestur's southern-most tip, there is a lighthouse

Lighthouse

A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....

.

The island has one settlement, also named Hestur on the east coast. Hestur village enjoys the view over Gamlarætt and Velbastaður

Velbastaður

Velbastaður is a village on the island of Streymoy in the Faroe Islands.*Population: 164*Postal code : FO 176*Location: *Municipality: Torshavnar...

 on Streymoy. In 1919 a fishing accident resulted in the deaths of one-thirds of Hestur's men. In an attempt to fight the depopulation of the village, a swimming pool was built on the island in 1974. On the southern part of the island by the lake Fagradalsvatn, one can camp

Camping

Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...

. Hestur's postal code is FO 280 and it's since 1 January 2005 part of the municipality of Tórshavn

Tórshavnar kommuna

Tórshavnar kommuna is the municipality of the Faroese capital Tórshavn and its surroundings. The municipality covers the southern half of Streymoy island and adjacent minor islands.-Population progression:...

.

Mountains

The island has the following four mountains

Name	Height
Múlin	421 m
Eggjarrók	421 m
Nakkur	296 m
Álvastakkur	125 m

External links

• Maps of Hestur Island
• Official site of Faroe Islands
• personal website with 6 aerial photos of Hestur