Fårö
Fårö (Gutnish Faroy, literally; Distant Island) is a small island just to the north of the island Gotland outside Sweden's south-eastern coast; the second-largest island belonging to the Swedish province of Gotland. It is a small, agrarian island which has become a popular summer resort for prominent Swedish politicians and is well known for its high real-estate rates.
Overview
The island is separated from Gotland by the Fårö-strait, but connected by cable ferries, operated by the Swedish National Road Administration. It has an area of 111.35 square kilometers, whereof 9.7 km² are water areas – bogs – or islets.
The renowned Swedish film-maker Ingmar Bergman lived and died there, and the island provided settings for his Fårö trilogy of Hour of the Wolf, The Passion of Anna and Skammen, as well as Persona. Andrey Tarkovsky's The Sacrifice was also filmed on Fårö.
On the islands of Fårö and Gotland, rock formations called "Rauk" can be found. These were a result of erosion during the Ice Age and are unique to Gotland and Fårö.
Until the 1990s Fårö and the North of Gotland were off limits for foreigners. Big multilingual signs at the side of the roads informed visitors about this and the measure was strictly enforced. When Sweden joined the EU the Swedish government could no longer continue with this behaviour, a few years later the military of Swedish coastal artillery division KA3 was shut down.
A relic from military activities is a 203 metres tall radio mast at Holmudden at 57°57'33" N and 19°20'46" E.
Parts of Fårö
Fårö Fyr (Fårö Lighthouse)
The Fårö fyr lighthouse lies on the island's north-eastern point. It is 30 meters high and was constructed between 1846-47.
Langhammar
The Langhammar peninsula and the Langhammar nature reserve on north-western Fårö feature rocky beaches with rauks, many meter high rocks sculpted by nature.
Digerhuvud
The Digerhuvud nature reserve features the Helgumannen fishing village. It is not suited for swimming due to its' depth (up to 80 meters close to the shore) and strong currents, however, it is a popular diving and sport-fishing area.
Sudersand
The long, sandy Sudersand beach on north-eastern Fårö lies next to Sudersands Semesterby which rents cabins to tourists.
External links
- Template:Sv icon article Fårö from Nordisk Familjebok (In Swedish).
- photos of Fårö from The Phogle Photo Collection.
- Sudersands Semesterby och Badrestaurang accommodation and restaurant on Fårö.
- Fårömålet - Description of the Fårö dialect of the Gutnish language (in Swedish).