Kalsoy

Kalsoy (Danish: Kalsø) is an island in the north-east of the Faroe Islands between Eysturoy and Kunoy. The name means man island; by contrast with the parallel island to the east, Kunoy, the name of which means woman island.[1]

Kalsoy
Island
Kalsoy
Location within the Faroe Islands
Coordinates: 62°17′N 6°44′W
StateKingdom of Denmark
Constituent countryFaroe Islands
Municipality seatKlaksvík
Area
 • Total30.9 km2 (11.9 sq mi)
Area rank9
Highest elevation
787 m (2,582 ft)
Population
 (2018)
 • Total76
 • Rank9
 • Density2.5/km2 (6.4/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+0 (GMT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+1 (EST)
Calling code298

The northernmost part of the island was used as a filming location for the 25th James Bond movie "No Time to Die".[2]

Kalsoy, like Svínoy, is a comparatively isolated island, in that no bridge, tunnel, or causeway links to it.

Geography

The western coast has dramatically steep cliffs for the full length of the island, whereas idyllic valleys on the eastern slopes protect the four tiny settlements, Húsar, Mikladalur, Syðradalur, and Trøllanes, whose combined populations total less than 80. They are connected by a partly surfaced road which passes through four dark tunnels. The island's thin shape and road tunnels give it the nickname "the flute". A lighthouse is located at Kallur, the northern tip of Kalsoy.

Important bird area

The northern and western coastline of the island has been identified as an important bird area by BirdLife International because of its significance as a breeding site for seabirds, especially Atlantic puffins (40,000 pairs), European storm petrels (5000 pairs), and black guillemots (200 pairs).[3]

Kalsoy, western coast
The Kalsoyarfjørður with Kalsoy (left) and Kunoy (right)

Mountains

The island has 13 peaks, the two highest of which are Nestindar (787 m) and Botnstindur (743 m).

Travel

Ferry landings occur at Syðradalur, and one of the mail boats (named Sam) makes regular trips from Klaksvík to both settlements. One can walk north all the way to the lighthouse at Kallur but the four unlit tunnels on the way make carrying a torch advisable. Traffic is insufficient to pose problems with exhaust gases. The northernmost tunnel through to Trøllanes is narrow, cold, damp, and over 2 km long. It is rarely used by vehicles since the population of Trøllanes is only 20. The alternative overland route from Mikladalur to Trøllanes is a dangerous and precipitous path that is best avoided.

Bus service between Húsar and Trøllanes also is provided.

Map of Kalsoy

Legends

Kalsoy has many legends, the best known of which is the legend of the Selkie or Seal-Woman of Mikladalur.

A young farmer from the town of Mikladalur on Kalsoy Island went to the beach to watch the selkies dance. He hid the skin of a beautiful selkie maid, so she could not go back to sea, and forced her to marry him. He kept her skin in a chest and the key with him both day and night. One day when out fishing, he discovered that he had forgotten to bring his key. When he returned home, the selkie wife had escaped back to sea, leaving their children behind. Later, when the farmer was out on a hunt, he killed both her selkie husband and two selkie sons, and she promised to take revenge upon the men of Mikladalur. Some shall be drowned, some shall fall from cliffs and slopes, and this shall continue, until so many men have been lost that they will be able to link arms around the whole island of Kalsoy; occasional deaths still occur in this way on the island.

This revenge has always been taken seriously, not only in Kalsoy, but also in the Faroe Islands generally. The descendants of the Seal-Woman are still known in the country by certain characteristics, especially their short fingers.[4]

References
  1. en.m.wiktionary.org
  2. "James Bond Faroe Islands scenery". Guide to Faroe Islands.
  3. BirdLife International. (2012). Important Bird Areas factsheet: Kalsoy. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 2012-02-23.
  4. "The seal-woman of Mikladalur". Sjoferdir Skúvadal (www.puffin.fo). Retrieved 6 November 2013.
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