Miðvágur ( da, Midvåg), is a village in the Faroe Islands on

Vágar Vágar ( da, Vågø) is one of the 18 islands in the archipelago of the Faroe Islands and the most westerly of the ''large islands''. With a size of , it ranks number three, behind Streymoy and Eysturoy. Vágar region also comprises the island ...

. It has been a municipality until 1 January 2009 when it fused with

Sandavágur Sandavágur ( da, Sandevåg) is a city on the south coast of the Faroese island of Vágar. The name ''Sandavágur'' means ''sandy bay'' and refers to the sandy beach which used to be much larger than present. From one point in Sandavágur you can ...

into Vága kommuna. Located on the south coast of the island of

, Miðvágur is the largest town on this Faroese island. For years, Miðvágur has been known as a good location for

whaling Whaling is the process of hunting of whales for their usable products such as meat and blubber, which can be turned into a type of oil that became increasingly important in the Industrial Revolution. It was practiced as an organized industry ...

and traditionally, bells would ring with the cry "''Grindaboð''!" - "Pilot whale ahoy!"

History

Miðvágur has been inhabited since at least the Viking period—as excavations have demonstrated. Since these early times, there has been a local "Thingstätte" (local community council), or " Várting". The most interesting building of the village is ''Kálvalíð'', a house which was probably built at the end of the Middle Ages. It is the oldest building of the village and possibly of the whole Faroe Islands. Kálvalíð consists of two rooms with a turf roof, built in the traditional faroese style. Today it houses a museum.

Sports

The local football team is MB (Miðvágs Bóltfelag), founded in January 1905. The rowing club from Miðvágur is Miðvágs Róðrarfelag.

People of note from Miðvágur

Greta Svabo Bech Greta Svabo Bech (born in Tórshavn) is a Faroese singer-songwriter. She first became known for her work with Canadian producer Deadmau5, when "Raise Your Weapon" was nominated for Best Dance Record at the 2011 Grammy Awards54th Annual Grammy Aw ...

, Faroese singer *

Beinta Broberg Bente Christine Broberg, known as Beinta Broberg, (1667 – 15 February 1752), is perhaps the best-known woman from the history of the Faroe Islands. She has been the inspiration for novels and a film. Biography Beinta was born in Tórshavn, th ...

(1667–1752), a pastor's wife, and believed to be the model for the main character of ''Barbara'', the best-known Faroese novel (written in

Danish Danish may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to the country of Denmark People * A national or citizen of Denmark, also called a "Dane," see Demographics of Denmark * Culture of Denmark * Danish people or Danes, people with a Danish ance ...

). *

Pauli Ellefsen Joen Pauli Højgaard Ellefsen (20 April 1936 – 24 August 2012) was a Faroese politician and member of the Union Party. He was Prime Minister of the Faroe Islands from 1981 to 1985. Pauli Ellefsen was the eldest of eight children born to Sofi ...

(1936-2012), Former Prime Minister (1981-1985) *

Sverri Sandberg Nielsen Sverri Sandberg Nielsen (born 14 October 1993) is a Faroese rower who competes for Danske Studenters Roklub and Denmark in the heavyweight single sculls. He also competes in indoor rowing and has set a new Danish record three years in a row, 2015 ...

, (born 1993) a Faroese rower * Rasmus Rasmussen (1871–1962), writer *

Jens Christian Svabo Jens Christian Svabo (1746 – 1824) was a pioneering Faroese linguist, scholar, and ethnographer. Svabo was born in Miðvágur, Vágar, the Faroe Islands to a minister and his wife. Svabo studied history, music, and theology in Miðvágur and l ...

(1746–1824), a pastor's son, who contributed greatly to the modern concept of a Faroese written language, working to standardize grammar and spelling and created a Faroese dictionary. Svabo also collected a variety of folk-tales and historical examples of the spoken dialect of Faroese on Miðvágur.

References

External links

Faroeislands.dk: MidvágurThe Tourist Information Centre in VágarMunicipality of Vágar
(In Faroese only) {{DEFAULTSORT:Midvagur Vágar Populated places in the Faroe Islands Populated coastal places in the Faroe Islands

History

Sports

People of note from Miðvágur

See also

References

External links