Sørvágsvatn

Infobox lake
lake_name = Sørvágsvatn
image_lake = Sørvágsvatn.jpg
caption_lake =
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location = Vágar
coords = coord|62|03|N|7|14|W|type:waterbody_region:FO|display=inline,title
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basin_countries = (Faroe Islands)
length =
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area = 3.4 km²
depth =
max-depth =
volume =
residence_time =
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Sørvágsvatn (Leitisvatn) is the biggest lake of the Faroe Islands. It is situated on the island of Vágar between the municipalities of Sørvágs Kommuna and Miðvágs kommuna. The name Sørvágsvatn means 'The lake of Sørvágur'.

In size it is 3.4 km², more than three times the size of the second biggest lake Fjallavatn, which also lies on the island of Vágar.

The name

Among the locals there can sometimes be a fierce debate regarding the name of the lake. The inhabitants of Sørvágur take pried in the fact that the lake is named after their village. On the other hand, the inhabitants of Miðvágur want to name the lake Leitisvatn, since, on their side of the lake, the land alongside the body of water is called Leiti.

Today it may seem strange to call the lake Sørvágsvatn given the fact, that the village of Miðvágur is situated closer to the lake, than the village of Sørvágur. The explanation to this is, that during the faroese Landnám Sørvágur was settled before Miðvágur. Sørvágur—alongside Bøur and Sandavágur—is considered to be one of the three original Landnámsbygdum í Vágum. The three Landnámsbygdir divided the land on the island among them into three equal sizes of 60 marks. A division of the island into three equal portion will bring Sørvágsvatn firmly inside the boundaries of Sørvágur and therefore the lake has been named after this village.

The locals mostly refer to Sørvágsvatn/Leitisvatn simply by calling it 'the Lake' (Vatni). Among the inhabitants on the island everyone knows what 'the Lake' is, and it is mostly when people from other parts of the Faroes refer to the lake - either by calling it Sørvágsvatn or Leitisvatn—that the debate will occur.

History

During World War II the British army built an airfield by the lake. They also built a station to support seaplanes. The first aircraft to land in the Faroe Islands was a Catalina from the British Navy, which landed on Sørvágsvatn in 1941.

Places and names

* Trælanípan
* Oyrar
* Bøsdalafossur
* Sjatlá
* Sálarbótsá

Fishing

There are very good opportunities for fishing on the lake.

Tourist

In the summer of 2005 a local initiative was set up, to make excursions [http://www.lakeside.fo/] on Sørvágsvatn.