Mykines

Mykines (Danish: Myggenæs) is the westernmost island of the Faroe Islands archipelago (Denmark), located in the North Atlantic. It is considered a paradise for ornithologists due to its many species of birds (the most numerous being puffins and gannets). On the island there is a single town, also called Mykines.

Due to the inaccessible situation of the island, the population has been emigrating to better connected areas, and currently only a little more than a dozen people reside permanently. This has led to a lack of development and the disappearance of the old municipal government. However, during the summer season, the population increases with the arrival of many Faroese who occupy the houses of their ancestors.

Etymology

The true origin of the name is not very clear. According to an ancient legend, its name means "dung promontory" ("muc nes"). Others explain its meaning as coming from Mikið nes ("great promontory"), or of Celtic origin: muick-innes ("island of pigs"). The latter theory could refer, rather than pigs, to certain species of cetaceans known as muc-mhara ("sea pigs") in Gaelic.

Geography

Mykines is a small island of just over 10 km², west of Vágar island. To the west of Mykines is the islet known as Mykineshólmur or Holmgjógv, separated from the island by a small strait and joined to it through a pedestrian bridge. The Mykines lighthouse is located on this islet.

Together with Suðuroy, Mykines preserves the oldest basalt layers of the Faroese archipelago.

In the eastern part of the island there are two large U-shaped valleys that open towards the coast: Borgardalur and Kálvadalur. To the north is the small valley of Korkadalur, where there are basalt columns known as the 'stone forest'. The bottom of these valleys is in the steep mountains in the center of the island, where Mount Knúkur (560 m) is located, the main elevation of the island. From here, there is a gentle slope that descends to the western coast, where the town of Mykines is located.

Fauna

Several tens of thousands of seabirds live on Mykines, especially puffins (Fratercula arctica), boreal fulmars (Fulmarus glacialis), European storm petrels (Hydrobates pelagicus) and kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla).

The European hare (Lepus timidus) is a species introduced by humans that populates mountains and valleys. It is very likely that the house mouse (Mus musculus) was introduced from a very early date (possibly by Irish monks), since there is an endemic subspecies, the Mykines mouse (Mus musculus mykinessiensis ). The closest relative of the Mykines mouse was the now extinct St. Kilda mouse (Mus musculus muralis).

Infrastructure

Most of the island is inaccessible. The pier is located south of the town, in one of the less steep areas, from where the ferry leaves for Sørvágur. There is also a heliport, where helicopters arrive that connect Mykines with Vágar airport. However, due to sudden changes in weather conditions, the island is sometimes cut off.

There are no cars in Mykines, except for some tractors for agricultural activities.

There is a primary school and a guest house called Kristianhus, which once served as the studio of the famous artist Sámal Joensen-Mikines.

Mykines Church was built of stone in 1879 at the end of the 19th century. A priest of the Church of the Faroe Islands celebrates mass sporadically.

History

By analysis of pollen grains, it was discovered that in the year 625 there was already barley and oat pollen on Mykines, suggesting that these plants may have been introduced by people who inhabited the islands at that early date.

In 1595, all the working men of Mykines (between 200 and 300 men) died aboard five boats when a sudden storm broke out.

In 1667 the Dutch ship Walcheren was shipwrecked on the coast of the island, and the locals took possession of its cargo.

In 1909 the lighthouse on the islet of Mykines was built and the first bridge between it and the island was inaugurated. In 1928 a radio beacon was installed in Mykines, making radio navigation possible for the first time. In that same year, the island inaugurated its telephone service.

The British, who occupied the Faroes during World War II, built a radar in Mykines in 1942.

In 1970 a flight from Bergen, Norway, bound for Vágar airport, crashed in Mykines. Of the 34 passengers, 8 lost their lives. In the town church there is a monument in honor of the deceased.

The streets and roads of the island remained unpaved until 1990.

Mykines formed its own municipality in 1911, when it was separated from the municipality of Vágar, which by then included the entire island of the same name. The municipality was dissolved in 2005, when Mykines was integrated into the municipality of Sørvágur.

Famous people

• Sámal Joensen-Mikines (1906-1979). One of the most outstanding ferocious painters.