Mykines is the western-most of the main 18 islands in the Faroe Islands. See also the only settlement on the island, Mykines.

Only 11 people live in village Mykines all year around. The oldest inhabitant is 75 and the youngest is 6 years old. Altogether there are 40 houses but only 6 are inhabited all the year round. Forher Mykines was one of the biggest villages in the Faroes. For instant there lived 170 people on Mykines in 1940.

Mykines was from 1911 to 2004 its own community but was in 2005 united with Sørvagur kommune. To the west of Mykines is the islet Mykines Holmur. A 40 meter long bridge connects Mykines to the Islet. A lighthouse is on the islet and it was build in 1909. On the northern side of Mykines is the valley Korkadalur, where one can find the great collums of basalt, called the Stone-wood. Mykines is famous for its rich nature and birdlife. A footbridge connects Mykineshólmur with the island of Mykines over a 35 metre deep gorge. The sea stacks surrounding the lighthouse at the far end of the cape are a sight of striking beauty.

Geography

Mykines seen from the east (Sørvágur) in October

Map of Mykines

Mykines

Furthermore, Mykines is so far west, that it's actually west of 7.5 degrees W, effectively putting it in the UTC-1 region. However, Mykines uses Greenwich Mean Time like the rest of the Faroes.

Geology

Mykines belongs to the eldest part of the Faroe Islands and is formed for about 60 million years ago. The Faroese basalt is divided into 3 series of eruption, the lower and eldest, the middle and the upper and youngest, The lower is formed by eruption through long fissures of rather fluent lava, which has formed great flat volcanos. In the sound between Mykines and Mykines Holm, Holmgjogv, one can see some of the mightiest on the Faroes, with thickness of about 50 meter

The softer volcanic tuff-layers between the basaltic layers is partly eroded, so there, especially on the steep northern side are some of the richest bird cliffs in the world.

Flora and Fauna

Large numbers of puffins and gannets inhabit the island. There are also many birds located on Mykineshólmur, a small islet to the immediate west of Mykines. A footbridge over the 35 m gorge Hólmgjógv links the two islands.

Mountain Hares (Lepus timidus) have been introduced to the island, and inhabit the mountain area and surrounding valleys. The Mykines House Mouse (Mus musculus mykinessiensis) is endemic for Mykines, and this might suggest an early introduction, maybe as early as in the 6´th century by the irish monks, who cultivated this island. Its closest relative was the now extinct St Kilda House Mouse (Mus musculus muralis).

On the rocks in the waters edge, there are colonies of cormorants, while the eroded tuff layers in the cliffs make perfect shelves for guillemots and razor-billed auks. On the grassy slopes above the bird cliffs, thousands of puffins have their dens, and their strong faeces, is a powerful fertilizer on the slopes.

History

It has been suggested that the name Mykines is actually pre-Norse in origin, coming from muc-innis, a Celtic term for pig island. This may be a reference to whales, which are known as muc-mhara (Sea sows) in Gaelic.

• 625 - pollen analysis indicates oats and barley were grown on Mykines, possibly by early settlers such as monks and hermits
• 1592 - Peter Claussøn Friis, a Norwegian priest, described the Faroese mouse as a distinct species, and the Mykines mouse as a subgroup having especially long powerful hind legs
• 1595 - (approx) on 25th April, fifty boats were shipwrecked in a sudden storm and all the working men of Mykines lost their lives (estimated 200 to 300 men)
• 1667 - Dutch ship "Walcheren" was wrecked on Mykines and the islanders gained goods from the ship
• 1909 - building of the Lighthouse on Mykines Holm and construction of the first bridge over Holmgjogv, the narrow strait between Mykines and Mykines Holm
• 1928 - radio beacons were installed at Nólsoy and Mykines lighthouses, making radio navigation possible for the first time, and Mykines got a telephone connection to the outside world
• 1942 - in spring British forces completed a radar station on á Ólakletti in Liðarhaugi.
• 1953 - the second bridge over Holm Gjogv was built.
• 1970 - flight from Bergen to Vágar Airport crashed in bad weather on Mykines on September 26th. Eight of the 34 passengers lost their lives, and the badly wounded were airlifted away by helicopter. A marble memorial was placed in the Church.
• 1970 - Mykines lighthouse was automated and the last man moved from the Holm, which had been occupied continuously from 1909 by a varying population of up to 22 people (including children).
• 1989 - the third bridge between Mykines and Mykines Holm came into use in June

Population progression

Progression of the population of Mykines since 1769:

Noted natives and residents

Sámal Joensen-Mikines 1906-1979, Painter

See also

• List of towns in the Faroe Islands
• Mykines, Mykines

Further reading

External links

• Mykines and Kristianshus Info, pictures, birdpictures and birdvoices
• Photo album
• Faroeislands.dk: Mykines Info and pictures
• Personal Website with 16 aerial photos of Mykines
• TrekEarth.com photo gallery with photos of Mykines Island
• TrekEarth.com photo gallery with photos of Mykinesholmur Island
• Faroese Stamps

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