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Borðoy

Island · Faroe Islands

CountryFaroe Islands TypeIsland
© Vincent van Zeijst / CC BY-SA 4.0

Why Borðoy

Borðoy, whose name translates to headland island, is situated in the north-eastern region of the Faroe Islands. It hosts eight populated communities, the largest of which is Klaksvík, taking rank as the second-most populous town in the entire archipelago. Additional inhabited locations scattered across the island include Norðoyri, Ánir, Árnafjørður, Strond, Norðtoftir, Depil, and Norðdepil.

In addition to its active towns, the northern area of Borðoy contains three abandoned settlements named Skálatoftir, Múli, and Fossá. Múli was historically recognized as one of the most isolated places in the region, relying exclusively on boats and helicopters for goods until a road connection was finally established in 1989; its remaining residents departed in 1994. In 1969, a museum based in Klaksvík purchased the land around Fossá with the intention of developing a traditional medieval Faroese village, although this initiative was ultimately never completed.

The topography of Borðoy features prominent elevated terrain, including five distinct mountains. The highest summit on the island is Lokki at 755 meters, followed by Depilsknúkur at 680 meters and Háfjall at 647 meters. The remaining peaks comprise Hálgafelli, reaching 503 meters, and Borðoyarnes, which rises to 392 meters.

Nature enthusiasts and birdwatchers recognize the headlands in the northern and south-eastern sections of the island as a designated Important Bird Area through BirdLife International. These coastal cliffs serve as critical nesting habitats for local seabirds, notably providing breeding grounds for an estimated 250 pairs of European storm petrels and 200 pairs of black guillemots.

01 Weather

Weather right now · Borðoy
42°
Light rain
Feels 36° · Humidity 90% · Wind 11 mph
Today Scattered clouds 45° 41° ☔ 48%
Mon Overcast clouds 49° 44° ☔ 20%
Tue Overcast clouds 48° 46°
Wed Broken clouds 48° 44°
Thu Broken clouds 44° 36°
Fri Overcast clouds 42° 39°
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