Nólsoy
Encyclopedia
Nólsoy is an island and village in central Faroe Islands
, located to the east of the capital Tórshavn
in Streymoy
. There is only one settlement on the island: Nólsoy
on the north-west coast on Stongin, a peninsula attached to the rest of the island by a metres-wide isthmus
. There is also one mountain Høgoyggj, the highest point is called Eggjarklettur (371 m) and Nólsoy is the lowest of the Faroese isles, it is accessible by a 20 minute ferry journey from Tórshavn. Nólsoy has the world's largest colony of Storm petrels, and is also home to the first known wild population of Common Frog
s in the Faroe Islands. The southern coast contains two capes, each with a lighthouse
(Øknastangi on the south-east, Borðan on the south). The lighthouses were built in the late 18th century to aid smugglers working against the trading monopoly.
As many as 40 people that live in Nólsoy go to work in Tórshavn each morning. In recent years many young families have moved from Tórshavn to Nólsoy where the houses are cheaper than in Tórshavn .
This way it is possible to live ‘in the country’ and still be only 20 minutes from the capital.
Nólsoy has an annual civic festival called Ovastevna. The festival is in the beginning of August. Ovastevna is similar to Ólavsøka in Tórshavn only smaller. Ovastevna is held to commemorate Ove Joensen
from Nólsoy. He rowed from Faroe Islands to Denmark in a traditional Faeroese boat in 1986. In 1987 Ove drowned in Skálafjørður-inlet where he fell over board.
The profit from the festival is used to build a swimming pool for the children in Nólsoy. Ove originally started this project after his row to Denmark
.
Nólsoyar Páll
came from Nólsoy. He is recognized as a kind of freedom fighter and national hero. He fought to end the Royal Trade Monopoly in the beginning of 19th century. The Royal Trade Monopoly was exhausting and impoverishing the people of the Faroe Islands from 1271 to 1856. Nólsoyar Páll carried trade between Denmark and Faroe Islands in his ship ‘Royndin Frida’. His ship was the first Faeroese ocean-going vessel since the early Middle Ages.
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 east of the capital Tórshavn
Tórshavn
Tórshavn is the capital and largest town of the Faroe Islands. It is located in the southern part on the east coast of Streymoy. To the north west of the town lies the high mountain Húsareyn, and to the southwest, the high Kirkjubøreyn...
in 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 :...
. There is only one settlement on the island: Nólsoy
Nólsoy, Nólsoy
Nólsoy is the only settlement on the island of Nólsoy in the Faroe Islands.*Population: 268*Postal code : FO 270*Location: *Municipality: Nolsoyar...
on the north-west coast on Stongin, a peninsula attached to the rest of the island by a metres-wide isthmus
Isthmus
An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas usually with waterforms on either side.Canals are often built through isthmuses where they may be particularly advantageous to create a shortcut for marine transportation...
. There is also one mountain Høgoyggj, the highest point is called Eggjarklettur (371 m) and Nólsoy is the lowest of the Faroese isles, it is accessible by a 20 minute ferry journey from Tórshavn. Nólsoy has the world's largest colony of Storm petrels, and is also home to the first known wild population of Common Frog
Common Frog
The Common Frog, Rana temporaria also known as the European Common Frog or European Common Brown Frog is found throughout much of Europe as far north as well north of the Arctic Circle in Scandinavia and as far east as the Urals, except for most of Iberia, southern Italy, and the southern Balkans...
s in the Faroe Islands. The southern coast contains two capes, each with 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....
(Øknastangi on the south-east, Borðan on the south). The lighthouses were built in the late 18th century to aid smugglers working against the trading monopoly.
As many as 40 people that live in Nólsoy go to work in Tórshavn each morning. In recent years many young families have moved from Tórshavn to Nólsoy where the houses are cheaper than in Tórshavn .
This way it is possible to live ‘in the country’ and still be only 20 minutes from the capital.
Nólsoy has an annual civic festival called Ovastevna. The festival is in the beginning of August. Ovastevna is similar to Ólavsøka in Tórshavn only smaller. Ovastevna is held to commemorate Ove Joensen
Ove Joensen
Ove Joensen was a Faroese seaman and adventurer....
from Nólsoy. He rowed from Faroe Islands to Denmark in a traditional Faeroese boat in 1986. In 1987 Ove drowned in Skálafjørður-inlet where he fell over board.
The profit from the festival is used to build a swimming pool for the children in Nólsoy. Ove originally started this project after his row to Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
.
Nólsoyar Páll
Nólsoyar Páll
Nólsoyar Páll is a Faroese national hero. He was a seaman, trader, poet, farmer and boat builder who tried to develop direct trade between the Faroes and the rest of Europe and introduced vaccination to the islands...
came from Nólsoy. He is recognized as a kind of freedom fighter and national hero. He fought to end the Royal Trade Monopoly in the beginning of 19th century. The Royal Trade Monopoly was exhausting and impoverishing the people of the Faroe Islands from 1271 to 1856. Nólsoyar Páll carried trade between Denmark and Faroe Islands in his ship ‘Royndin Frida’. His ship was the first Faeroese ocean-going vessel since the early Middle Ages.
External links
- faroeisland.dk
- personal website with 6 aerial photos of Nólsoy
- Homepage about Nólsoy