Svínoy (Danish: Svinø) is an island located in the north-east of the Faroe Islands, to the east of Borðoy and Viðoy. It takes its name from Old Norse, Svíney, meaning "Swine Isle". Svinoy also refers to a section of the ocean where North Atlantic water flows into the Norwegian Sea.[1] There is a similarly named island, Swona, in the Orkney Islands.
[edit] Geography
Svínoy is divided into two unequally sized peninsulas. The coast is mostly steep slopes and cliffs, including the 345 m precipice of Eysturhøvdi on the north coast. It has only one settlement, also named Svínoy, where all the inhabitants live.
[edit] Important Bird Area
The coastline of the island has been identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International because of its significance as a breeding site for seabirds, especially European Storm Petrels (25,000 pairs), Atlantic Puffins (10,000 pairs) and Black Guillemots (100 pairs).[2]
[edit] Mountains
There are seven mountains on Svínoy:
[edit] History
- 975 Viking Chief Svínoyar-Bjarni is mentioned in the Færeyinga Saga. A headstone in the church is assumed to be Bjarni's memorial stone.
- 1583 Jacob Eudensen from Svinoy was the last person in the Faroe Islands to be condemned to death for heresy; he had refused to renounce his Catholic faith and convert to Lutheranism.
[edit] Gallery
[edit] References
[edit] External links
Kingdom of Denmark
Faroe Islands
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