Sørvágsvatn

Sørvágsvatn
Location	Vágar
Coordinates	62°03′N 7°14′W / 62.050°N 7.233°WCoordinates: 62°03′N 7°14′W / 62.050°N 7.233°W
Basin countries	(Faroe Islands)
Surface area	3.4 km^2

Leitisvatn/Sørvágsvatn is the largest lake in the Faroe Islands. It is situated on the island of Vágar between the municipalities of Sørvágs Kommuna and Vága kommuna. In size it is 3.4 km², more than three times the size of the second largest lake Fjallavatn, located on the island of Vágar.

The name Leitisvatn means "The lake by Leiti" (the name of the east side of the lake) and Sørvágsvatn means "The lake by Sørvágur".

Name

Among the locals, there is a debate regarding the name of the lake. The inhabitants of Sørvágur take pride in naming the lake after their village. On the other hand, the inhabitants of Miðvágur and Sandavágur call it "Leitisvatn", because the east side of the lake alongside the body of water is called Leiti.

Though the village of Miðvágur is situated closer to the lake than Sørvágur, there are indications of the lake being named for the latter because the faroese Landnám Sørvágur was settled before Miðvágur. Sørvágur; alongside Bøur and Sandavágur—is considered to be one of the three original Landnámsbygdir (original settlements) on Vágar. The three Landnámsbygdir divided the land on the island among them into three equal sizes of 60 marks. A division of the island into three equal portion will bring Sørvágsvatn firmly inside the boundaries of Sørvágur and therefore the lake has been named after this village.

The locals mostly refer to Sørvágsvatn/Leitisvatn simply by calling it 'Vatnið' (the Lake). Among the inhabitants on the island everyone knows what "the Lake" is, and it is mostly when people from other parts of the Faroes refer to the lake—either by calling it Sørvágsvatn or Leitisvatn—that the debate will occur.

History

During World War II, the British army built an airfield by the lake. They also built a station to support seaplanes. The first aircraft to land on the lake was a Catalina from the British Navy, which landed on it in 1941.

Geography

Map of the lake.

The lake is located very close to the ocean, but its surface is about 40 meters above the level of sea. It is surrounded by a higher cliff which prevents it from emptying into the ocean. The water exit is the waterfall Bøsdalafossur.

Places and names

• Trælanípan
• Oyrar
• Bøsdalafossur
• Sjatlá
• Sálarbótsá

Fishing

There are very good opportunities for fishing on the lake, where you can catch Brown Trout.

Tourist

In the summer of 2005 a local initiative was set up, to make excursions on the lake.

References