Vágar (Island)

The islands of Vágar and Mykines of 176.4 km² and 9.6 km², respectively, have for centuries constituted one district, Vága, and one superior parish. Today, the markatal settlements of Sørvágur, Bøur, Gásadalur and Mykines constitute one of the two municipalities on Vágar, Sørvágs Kommuna. The other, Vága Kommuna, consists of the markatal settlements of Sandavágur and Miðvágur as well as the relatively new outlying village of Vatnsoyrar and the now abandoned Slættanes.

Vágar is the third largest island in the Faroe Islands. Most of the coast is steep and inaccessible, but has bird cliffs and coastal formations such as Trøllkonufingur at Sandavágur, Trælanipan at Miðvágur and the islets of Tindhólmur, Gásaholmur and other sea-stacks at the entrance to the village of Sørvágur. Tindhólmur was supposedly formerly inhabited by a family; today, there are two holiday homes on the islet, one private and one shared by the landowners.

There are four lakes on Vágar: Sørvágsvatn, also called Leitisvatn, Fjallavatn, Hvilvtkinnavatn and Vatnsdalsvatn, of which the first two are the largest in the Faroe Islands. Sørvágsvatn runs off to the south over Bøsdalafossur, Fjallavatn to the north over Reipsáfossur.

The highest mountains on Vágar are Árnafjall at 722 m at Gásadalur as well as Malinstindur at 683 m and Reynsatindur at 677 m in Sandavágur.

The island’s three largest villages, Sørvágur, Miðvágur and Sandavágur, are located at three vágir (fjords) and all have sandy beaches. In Sandavágur, the landing conditions are more difficult than in the other two villages due to the surf.

In general, the population on Vágar and Mykines has been stable since 1966. It has increased in the large villages and in the centrally located smaller villages, but has decreased in remote villages such as Mykines and Gásadalur.

The occupation of Vágar and its aftermath

World War II and the British occupation generally had a great impact on the Faroe Islands in the form of increased desire for independence and subsequent political reforms, and it had very concrete and lasting consequences for Vágar.

Vágar was where the largest number of soldiers settled down, resulting in a major expansion of the road network on the island, and the small military airfield later became the country’s airport. Population increased significantly and a large number of jobs were created.

8000 British soldiers

During the first years of World War II, British soldiers only came sporadically to Vágar, but after the 21st of March 1942, when it was decided to build an airfield on the island, the number increased considerably, and several residential houses and other buildings were seized. The port of Sørvágur was soon improved with a pier to more easily get heavy machinery and vehicles ashore. The entrance got modern entrance lights that were operated centrally. At the port, six large tanks were built to store oil and other fuel, which thus also became a German bombing target.

Smaller-scale cargo was unloaded in the port of Midvágur. The port had a bakery and a car workshop. In addition, there were warehouses and magazines for storing coal, foodstuffs, tobacco, spirits, sweets, uniforms and other personal equipment, spare parts and mechanical and electrical items.

Within a short time, military camps were also established. Around 350 barracks were built in the Uppi á Mýrum area of Sørvágur, making it the largest military camp in the Faroe Islands. The second largest at 150 barracks was in Vatnsoyrar and was called Lakeside. A number of smaller installations were also established on the island. The mess, toilets and showers were part of the camps’ common facilities. A modern sewage system with septic tanks was also installed. In addition, the British had their own electricity supply at a time when such a system did not otherwise exist on Vágar.

A hospital was established in Sandavágur, a prison was built in Sørvágur, a Catholic church was built in Vatnsoyrar and a cemetery was established in Miðvágur.

In addition to the soldiers’ residential barracks, there were also rooms for entertainment and recreation. The Entertainment Hut in Sørvágur had a theatre, cinema, dance floor and bar, and much the same was found at the Lakeside Theatre in Vatnsoyrar.

For a period, there were around 8,000 British soldiers on the island, which greatly affected the local community. For example, passports were issued to everyone on the island which had to be produced on request. The men were given limited access to British pubs; they were usually not invited to dances and entertainments, but the women were. The British ensured that famous actors and singers of the time, such as Vera Lynn, were flown in.

Military installations and paved roads

The soldiers’ main tasks were to build an airfield, roads, military installations and a seaplane station, which was very important in the beginning until the airfield was completed. At Bøur, there were two 12-pounder guns used for protection against sea attacks. At Chester Camp north of the lake Leitisvatn, there was an anti-aircraft battery with four guns, and at Giljanes between Miðvágur and Sandavágur they had two guns. In addition, camouflaged ammunition and bomb depots with communication and observation posts were located strategically across the island.

Quarries were built to obtain building material, and the large consumption of sand for concrete and concrete blocks affected the sandy beaches. Instead, paved roads and paths came to characterise the island of Vágar. The asphalt machine was located near the beach in Sørvágur. It was also in use after the war, when it was taken over by the municipality.

Vágar airport

The Faroe Islands’ only airport, Vágar Airport, is a result of World War II. At the beginning of the war, the lake Sørvágsvatn was used as an established landing place for the seaplanes, usually Sunderland float planes. The lake had moorings for the airplanes, and a concrete ramp was built where the airplanes could be hauled ashore and parked. It has been named Flúgvarabedingin (the plane slipway).

Of the three runways originally planned, only one was established. It had seven parking spaces for aircraft and a hangar. For many years, the hangar stood as a landmark but fell into disrepair and was later removed. The approach tower, which was built on a ridge so that it could be used for directing seaplanes and planes on the runway, has been preserved. Near the approach tower is the SOR (Sector Operation Room) building. The British’s most important communication centre in the Faroe Islands today houses the Føroya Krígssavn (the Faroe Islands War Museum) with memorabilia from World War II.

The airport was completed in 1943 and was in use until the end of the war. After the war, a brief attempt was made to maintain the air service using the small airplane Erla Kongsóttir, which, however, had an accident on the runway and had to be scrapped. After that, only a few Danish military machines used the runway, and all of the facility fell more or less into disrepair. It was not until 1963 that a private Faroese airline, Flogfelag Føroya, in collaboration with the Icelandic airline Icelandair, took the initiative for a regular air service between the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Denmark and Norway. Gradually, other companies, such as Maersk, came on board, and today the Faroese company Atlantic Airways (founded in 1987) and SAS provide the air service to and from the Faroe Islands.

In line with development, the runway and airport have been expanded and modernised several times, and traffic has grown steadily. With the establishment of the undersea tunnel between Vágar and Streymoy in 2002, it now takes 40 minutes by car or bus to and from Tórshavn.

Today, the airport is one of the most important employers on Vágar.

Further reading

Read more about The islands, towns and settlements