Vestmanna
Vestmanna (Danish: Vestmannahavn, German Meaning: " Westman ( port ) " ) is the second largest city next to Tórshavn on Streymoy, the main island of the Faroe Islands.
- Population: 1 206 (2011)
- Postal Code: FO -350
- Municipality: Vestmanna
The same Faroese municipality is the seventh largest of the archipelago.
Origin of the name
Geography and transport
Vestmanna lies on the west coast Streymoys and has a sea port, which is regarded as one of the best natural harbors in the Faroe Islands. It was important here for decades, the investors of the car ferry to Vágar (photo).
Since December 2002 there is the Vágartunnel that connects the main island (and thus the capital Tórshavn ) of Leynar from the airport to Vágar. The ferry was therefore set.
Economic History
Significantly Vestmanna was in 1839, when the Royal Danish trade monopoly here a store opened, which should serve the north of Streymoy and Vágar. The goods were then transported with rowing boats or on foot along the mountain paths.
1897 here, the yard was built, which should fix the fishing boat in the first place, which were then bought in the UK. Today this yard belongs to Tórshavn shipyard.
1950 in Vestmanna the largest hydropower plant in the Faroe Islands was built. To this end, the jammed in the mountains water with aboveground pipes in the turbines located in Vestmanna transported down (photo). By 1986, 80 % of the water power of the Faroe Islands were created here.
In Vestmanna There are three power plants with four machines. Two machines in Fossaverkid and one each in Heygaverkid and Myraverkid. The total installed power is about 13.7 MW.
Tourism and Attractions
Famous are the bird cliffs Vestmannabjørgini north of Vestmanna.
From here boat trips are organized to the gigantic cliffs on the northwest coast Streymoys. Best time is June and July of this, when millions of breeding birds inhabit the Faroe Islands.
In addition to the cliffs can be found on this rocky coast a variety of natural caves (photo), which also can be driven into it, when it is safe to swell. Kańska ( maybe) but is then alternatively offered a fishing trip.
From Vestmanna leads a historic trail across the mountains to Saksun ( 18 km). This tour is challenging and should be carefully prepared. The paved road to Vestmanna leads west out of the city and ends near a lake area in the wilderness.
In another small park in the south of the city is 2.2 m high bronze statue to see " Útróðrarmaðurin ", which was founded in 1961 by Janus Kamban, one of the most important artists of the Faroe Islands, created. He also established the 1.2 x 1.4 m wide relief " Móðurmálið " of basalt at the school.