Streymoy ( Faroese pronunciation: [ˈstɾeɪ̯mɔɪ̯] , Danish : Strømø ) is the largest and most populated island of the Faroe Islands . The capital, Tórshavn , is located on its southeast coast. The name means "island of currents". It also refers to the largest region of the country that also includes the islands of Hestur , Koltur and Nólsoy .
16-456: Húsareyn is a mountain located on the island of Streymoy , Faroe Islands . Standing at 345 metres (1,132 ft) above sea level, it is dwarfed by other Faroese mountains such as Slættaratindur . The mountain overlooks the Faroese capital, Tórshavn , from the northwest and is clearly visible around the town. It is a popular hiking destination for tourists because of its easy accessibility from
32-410: A breeding site for seabirds , especially northern fulmars (75,000 pairs), European storm petrels (2500 pairs), European shags (150 pairs), great skuas (120 pairs), black-legged kittiwakes (9000 pairs), Atlantic puffins (20,000 pairs) and black guillemots (300 pairs). There are about 24,682 inhabitants on the island (January 2020), which represents more than 45% of the whole population of
48-479: Is a region and the second-largest of the Faroe Islands , both in size and population. Eysturoy is separated by a narrow sound from the main island of Streymoy . Eysturoy is extremely rugged, with some 66 separate mountain peaks , including Slættaratindur , the highest peak in the archipelago at 880 metres (2,890 ft). The country's two longest fjords, Skálafjørður in the south and Funningsfjørður in
64-426: Is also the chief port, the seat of the university and the commercial centre of the islands. The other important towns include: Vestmanna , the former ferry port in the west, Kollafjørður at the centre and the picturesque villages of Saksun and Tjørnuvík in the north. From a historic point of view the village of Kirkjubøur near the southern tip of the island is very important as it was an episcopal center during
80-406: Is dominated by over 500-metre-high (1,640 ft) cliffs. The area is known as Vestmannabjørgini, which means Cliffs of Vestmanna . The beaches of Tórshavn, Vestmanna, Leynar , Kollafjørður , Hvalvík (meaning Whale Bay) and Tjørnuvík are officially approved grind beaches for whaling. Like the rest of the Faroe Islands there are numerous short streams and minor lakes. The main vegetation
96-415: Is grass, with no trees. Some of the villages have planted trees inside or just outside the village. These parks need to have fences around them in order to keep sheep out. Streymoy is separated from the nearby Eysturoy , the second-largest island of the Faroe Islands , by the sounds of Sundini and Tangafjørður . To the west lies the island of Vágar , and to the south the island of Sandoy , separated by
112-644: Is the eighth-largest fishing company worldwide. Four out of ten Premier league football clubs are in Eysturoy: IF ( Fuglafjørður ), NSÍ ( Runavík ), Skála ÍF and Víkingur ( Leirvík ). There are regional rowing festivals in Fuglafjørður (Varmakelda), Runavík (Eystanstevna), and one alternating between Skáli, Strendur and Vestmanna (Fjarðastevna). Accepted grind beaches are in Fuglafjørður, Funningsfjørður , Norðra- and Syðragøta, Norðskáli and Skálafjørður . The north, north-east, and south-east coasts of
128-653: The Faroe Islands . The majority of them reside in the capital Tórshavn , which has a population of about 21,000 in the municipality, of whom 13,089 live in Tórshavn, 3,956 in Hoyvík , and 2,110 in Argir . Hoyvík and Argir are suburbs of Tórshavn, but they have grown together. Around 1,202 people live in Vestmanna , and 789 in Kollafjørður . Besides being the seat of the government, Tórshavn
144-553: The Middle Ages. List of villages All the settlements are connected by surfaced roads. The main entry road to Tórshavn passes through a 2.8 kilometres (1.7 mi) long tunnel. The connection to the island of Eysturoy is via Streymin Bridge over the Sundini sound. Since 2002, the almost 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) long Vágar Tunnel has connected Streymoy to Vágar , thereby completing
160-517: The Vestmannasund and Skopunarfjørður respectively. Three additional smaller islands are situated around the southern tip of Streymoy and belong to the Streymoy sýsla : Koltur , Hestur and Nólsoy ; all of which are incorporated into Tórshavn Municipality . The north-east coastline of the island has been identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International because of its significance as
176-466: The capital. Streymoy The island is oblong in shape and stretches roughly in northwest–southeast direction with a length of 47 kilometres (29 miles) and a width of around 10 kilometres (6 miles). There are two deeply-indented fjords in the southeast: Kollafjørður and Kaldbaksfjørður. The island is mountainous (average height is 337 meter ), especially in the northwest, with the highest peak being Kopsenni (789 metres (2,589 ft)). That area
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#1732858918894192-511: The island is the gateway for transport connections to the north-eastern islands, particularly Klaksvík on the island of Borðoy , which is the Faroes' second-largest town. In December 2020, the sub-sea Eysturoyartunnilin (the Eysturoy Tunnel) was opened, creating a direct link between Runavík , Strendur and Tórshavn . Sites of interest on Eysturoy include the villages of Eiði and Gjógv ,
208-608: The islands of Suðuroy and Nólsoy from the ferry port in Tórshavn . A scheduled ferry connects Tórshavn with Hirtshals in Denmark and Seyðisfjörður in Iceland . The closest airport is Vágar Airport on Vágar island (35 minutes by car); it is the only airport in the Faroe Islands. Eysturoy Eysturoy ( Faroese pronunciation: ['ɛstroi] , meaning 'East Island')
224-481: The latter having a small natural port in a rock column; the Blásastova historical museum in the village of Gøta ; and the 18 °C (64 °F) varmakelda (thermal springs) of Fuglafjørður. Off the northern tip of the island are the basalt sea stacks Risin og Kellingin . The town of Glyvrar on the eastern coast of Eysturoy is the home-base for Bakkafrost , the largest company in the Faroe Islands. Bakkafrost
240-508: The north, almost split the island in two halves. The isthmus in between, Millum Fjarða, is one of the flattest areas in the country. Important settlements on Eysturoy are Fuglafjørður in the north and the densely populated area of the municipalities of Runavík and Nes in the south. Eysturoy is connected with Streymoy by the Streymin Bridge over the Sundini. Leirvík on the east coast of
256-530: The road connections of the three "mainland" islands. Since December 2020, the Eysturoyartunnilin has connected southern Streymoy to Eysturoy. One undersea tunnel is currently under construction: the Sandoyartunnilin connecting Streymoy to Sandoy (due to open in 2023). Streymoy is connected by regular ferry service to the island of Sandoy from the ferry port of Gamlarætt near Kirkjubøur , and to
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