Gjógv
Encyclopedia
| Population: | 49 (1 January 2006) |
|---|---|
| Postal Code (Zip): | FO 376 |
| Location | 62°19′30"N 6°56′28"W |
| Country |  Faroe Islands |
| Municipality | Sunda (List of municipalities Municipalities of the Faroe Islands The Faroe Islands are administratively divided in 30 municipalities , with about 120 cities and villages. Until December 31, 2008, there were 34 municipalities, and until December 31, 2004, there were 48 municipalities... ) |
Gjógv ' onMouseout='HidePop("74108")' href="/topics/Canyon">gorge
Canyon
A canyon or gorge is a deep ravine between cliffs often carved from the landscape by a river. Rivers have a natural tendency to reach a baseline elevation, which is the same elevation as the body of water it will eventually drain into. This forms a canyon. Most canyons were formed by a process of...
, geo
Geo (landscape)
A geo or gio is an inlet, a gully or a narrow and deep cleft in the face of a cliff. Geos are common on the coastline of the Shetland and Orkney islands. They are created by the wave driven erosion of cliffs along faults and bedding planes in the rock. Geos may have sea caves at their heads...
) is a village located on the northeast tip of the island of Eysturoy
Eysturoy
Eysturoy means East island and is the second-largest of the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic, both in size and population. It is separated by a narrow sound from the main island of Streymoy. Eysturoy is extremely rugged, with some 66 separate mountain peaks, including Slættaratindur, the...
, in the Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
and 63 km (39 mi) north by road from the capital of Tórshavn
Tórshavn
Tórshavn is the capital and largest town of the Faroe Islands. It is located in the southern part on the east coast of Streymoy. To the north west of the town lies the high mountain Húsareyn, and to the southwest, the high Kirkjubøreyn...
. The village was named after a 200-metre (650 ft) long sea-filled gorge that runs north to the sea from the village.
History
The village was first mentioned in 1584, but it seems to have existed long before then. It has long subsisted on fishing and selling dried and salted fish (klippfiskur in FaroeseFaroese language
Faroese , is an Insular Nordic language spoken by 48,000 people in the Faroe Islands and about 25,000 Faroese people in Denmark and elsewhere...
). At one time as many as 13 fishing boats sailed from Gjógv. Its population has seen a sharp decline in the past 60 years or so. In 1950 the headcount still stood at 210. A factory producing prefabricated concrete elements was founded in the village in 1982. It employs 6 people and is the only one of its kind in the islands. Other branches of industry are represented by the village's fish farm
Fish farming
Fish farming is the principal form of aquaculture, while other methods may fall under mariculture. Fish farming involves raising fish commercially in tanks or enclosures, usually for food. A facility that releases young fish into the wild for recreational fishing or to supplement a species'...
and guest house / hostel and campsite.
Sights
The village church dates from 1929. It was the first one to be consecrated in the village and the first one to feature services in Faroese. Before that, the villagers walked to FunningurFunningur
Funningur is a town on the Faroe Islands. It is located on the north-west coast of Eysturoy . It was the only village in the municipality called Funnings kommuna, which on 1 January 2009 became part of Runavíkar kommuna....
for church and burial services. On the opposite side of the road a sculpture stands as a memorial to fishermen lost at sea, bearing the names and ages of men from the late nineteenth to the mid twentieth century. The sculpture of a mother and two children looking out to sea was created by Janus Kamban
Janus Kamban
Janus Kamban is a Faroese sculptor and last living representative from the "first generation" of professional artists in the Faroe Islands.Kamban is the first and most important sculptor in the Faroe Islands...
, who has created a number of Faroese commemorative statues.
The village school building dates back to 1884. It was built from boulders and was once in use by as many as 50 pupils. Now there are only three. The old village dance hall was renovated and extended in 1986 and now houses a community centre. All houses in the village conform to the prevailing colourful style of building in the Faroes, red, white and green being the predominant colours used. There are still about 50 houses left in the village. Due to the great decrease in population, about half of that number stand empty.
The nearest grocery store is at Eiði
Eiði
Eiði is a large village located on the north-west tip of Eysturoy, Faroe Islands Its name means isthmus in the Faroese language. The town has a population of 669In the center of the village there is a large stone church from 1881...
, but Gjógv has a post office in a private home, which opens five days a week for 30 minutes each morning and afternoon. There is also a helicopter pad in the village, used mainly for emergency ambulance service or sea-rescue operations.
Gjógv has one of the best natural harbours in the Faroes
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are an island group situated between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, approximately halfway between Scotland and Iceland. The Faroe Islands are a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, along with Denmark proper and Greenland...
. However, boats need to be pulled up on a ramp to be safe from the surf. To tourists and boating natives alike, the harbour in the gorge is also a well-known site of outstanding natural scenery. The village gets its name from the gorge, Faroese
Faroese language
Faroese , is an Insular Nordic language spoken by 48,000 people in the Faroe Islands and about 25,000 Faroese people in Denmark and elsewhere...
gjógv is derived from the same Norse word (gjó) as the Shetlandic
Shetlandic
Shetlandic, usually referred to as Shetland by native speakers, is spoken in the Shetland Islands north of mainland Scotland and is, like Orcadian, a dialect of Insular Scots...
geo
Geo (landscape)
A geo or gio is an inlet, a gully or a narrow and deep cleft in the face of a cliff. Geos are common on the coastline of the Shetland and Orkney islands. They are created by the wave driven erosion of cliffs along faults and bedding planes in the rock. Geos may have sea caves at their heads...
. The inhabitants are known as Gjáarfólk, possibly related to the Icelandic
Icelandic language
Icelandic is a North Germanic language, the main language of Iceland. Its closest relative is Faroese.Icelandic is an Indo-European language belonging to the North Germanic or Nordic branch of the Germanic languages. Historically, it was the westernmost of the Indo-European languages prior to the...
word gjá which itself comes from the Old Norse
Old Norse
Old Norse is a North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age, until about 1300....
gjó from which the village name is derived.
Danish crown prince Frederik
Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark
Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, Count of Monpezat, is the heir apparent to the throne of Denmark. Frederik is the elder son of Queen Margrethe II and Henrik, the Prince Consort.-Name and christening:...
and Crown Princess Mary
Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark
Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark, Countess of Monpezat, is the wife of Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark...
visited Gjógv on 22 June 2005. Two elderly inhabitants named Rita and Christian had the original idea of placing a bench with a magnificent view along the gorge towards the sea. The bench was baptised 'Mary's bench' (boldly proclaimed by a brass plaque attached to it) and the Crown Princess subsequently became the first to be seated on it. They were also serenaded by Faroese opera singer Rúni Brattaberg
Rúni Brattaberg
Rúni Brattaberg is a Faroese bass opera singer.-Early life and education:Rúni is the son of Árni and Karin Brattaberg from the village of Vágur on the Faroese island of Suðuroy...
on this occasion.
Surroundings
A number of tracks head up into the uplands north and west of the village. The highest peaks between Gjógv and the neighbouring village of EiðiEiði
Eiði is a large village located on the north-west tip of Eysturoy, Faroe Islands Its name means isthmus in the Faroese language. The town has a population of 669In the center of the village there is a large stone church from 1881...
are Slættaratindur
Slættaratindur
Slættaratindur is the highest mountain in the Faroe Islands, at an altitude of 882 metres. It is located in the northern part of Eysturoy, between the villages of Eiði, Gjógv, and Funningur....
(882 m, 2,894 ft) and Gráfelli
Gráfelli
Gráfelli is the second highest mountain of the Faroe Islands located on the island of Eysturoy. It has an elevation of 856 metres. Slættaratindur just south-east of the mountain is 26 metres higher at 882 metres, the highest point of the Faroes....
(857 m, 2,812 ft). The valley of Ambadalur is located just northwest of Gjógv. Just off the coast at Ambadalur the highest free-standing sea-stack in the Faroes is to be found. It reaches up to an astounding 188 metres (617 ft). Locally known as Búgvin, it offers a safe perch for multitudes of seabirds. The peaks of Tyril and Middagsfjall (601 m, 1,972 ft) are found east of Gjógv. Both peaks offer a phenomenal view of Funningsfjørður
Funningsfjørður
Funningsfjørður is a village located at the end of a fjord of the same name . It was founded in 1812, with Elduvikar as its municipality.There was a whaling station in Funningsfjørður from 1902 to 1913....
(Funningur
Funningur
Funningur is a town on the Faroe Islands. It is located on the north-west coast of Eysturoy . It was the only village in the municipality called Funnings kommuna, which on 1 January 2009 became part of Runavíkar kommuna....
's Fjord).
Noted natives and residents
- Joen DanielsenJoen DanielsenJoen Danielsen Known as Kvívíks-Jógvan , . He married and settled in the town of Gjógv....
(1843–1926) poet - Faroese actress Kristin Hervør Lützen was born in Gjógv.
- Hans Jacob Debes (1940–2003), historian.
External links
- Faroeislands.dk: Gjógv Images and description of all cities on the Faroe Islands.
- Gjáar municipality website (In Faroese only.)
- Gjógv guesthouse
- Staðanøvn við Gjógv Excellent geographical website, which regrettably enough is only in Faroese, despite having homepages in English and German. The heading "Myndasavn" leads to an extensive image gallery.