Stóra Dímun (Island) – Trap The Faroe Islands

Stóra Dímun is difficult to access, and especially in the winter, the residents rely on the regular helicopter service to and from the island. ÓLAVUR FREDERIKSEN, 2020

In addition to the rich bird life, many people come to Skúvoy to visit Fagradal. This was where the woman Rannva reportedly served a life sentence for having given birth to a son out of wedlock, although the child was the result of a rape committed by a Danish lieutenant. In the background, Stóra Dímun and Lítla Dímun can be seen. ÓLAVUR FREDERIKSEN, 2019

The three islands of Sandoy at 112.10 km², Skúvoy at 11.18 km² and Stóra Dímun at 2.65 km² include the markatal settlements of Sandur, Skálavík, Húsavík, Skarvanes, Dalur, Skúvoy and Stóra Dímun. Added to this, there is Skopun, an outlying village founded in 1833 on Sandur’s markatal land. These villages constitute Sandoyar Sýsla and the superior parish of Sandoyar Prestagjald.

The three islands constitute five independent municipalities: Skopunar Kommuna, Skálavíkar Kommuna, Sands Kommuna, Húsavíkar Kommuna, which includes Skarvanes and Dalur, and Skúvoyar Kommuna, which includes Stóra Dímun.

Stóra Dímun has ten inhabitants and covers 13 merkur copyhold land leased by a single copyhold tenant. The sheep herd consists of 450 animals.

Like Skúvoy, Stóra Dímun is known from the Færeyingasaga. On this inaccessible island is a farm where beets and a versatile selection of other vegetables are grown. Around 2020, a brew based on these beets, Mai, was launched, which can be bought in Faroese alcohol outlets. The island has its own authorised slaughterhouse, and a large part of the slaughtered sheep is sold as fresh meat to restaurants in Tórshavn.

On the island there is a school with accommodation for the itinerant teacher. In the summer, special tourist trips by boat or ship to Stóra Dímun are frequently organised, but there is also a regular helicopter connection to the island.

The legend of Annika í Dímun from the 16th century is linked to the island. She was married against her will to the farmer in Dímun, but she was sentenced to death and drowned in Havnarvág outside Tórshavn for killing her husband so that she could live with her servant.

Further reading