Gjógv (pronounced , literally: gorge, geo) is a village located on the northeast tip of the island of Eysturoy, in the Faroe Islands and 63 km (39 mi) north by road from the capital of Tórshavn.

The village was named after a 200-metre (650 ft) long sea-filled gorge that runs north to the sea from the village.

History

thumb|250px|The [[gorge is the natural harbour of Gjógv.]]

The village was first mentioned in 1584, but it seems to have existed long before then. It has long subsisted on fishing and selling dried and salted fish (klippfiskur in Faroese). At one time as many as 13 fishing boats sailed from Gjógv. Its population has seen a sharp decline in the past 60 years or so. In 1950 the headcount still stood at 210. A factory producing prefabricated concrete elements was founded in the village in 1982. It employs 6 people and is the only one of its kind in the islands. Other branches of industry are represented by the village's fish farm and guest house / hostel and campsite.

Sights

The village church dates from 1929. It was the first one to be consecrated in the village and the first one to feature services in Faroese. Before that, the villagers walked to Funningur for church and burial services. On the opposite side of the road a sculpture stands as a memorial to fishermen lost at sea, bearing the names and ages of men from the late nineteenth to the mid twentieth century. The sculpture of a mother and two children looking out to sea was created by Fritjof Joensen.

The village school building dates back to 1884. It was built from boulders and was once in use by as many as 50 pupils. Now there are only three. The old village dance hall was renovated and extended in 1986 and now houses a community centre. All houses in the village conform to the prevailing colourful style of building in the Faroes, red, white and green being the predominant colours used. There are still about 50 houses left in the village. Due to the great decrease in population, about half of that number stand empty.

The nearest grocery store is at Eiði, but Gjógv has a post office in a private home, which opens five days a week for 30 minutes each morning and afternoon. There is also a helicopter pad in the village, used mainly for emergency ambulance service or sea-rescue operations.

Noted natives and residents

  • Joen Danielsen (1843–1926) poet
  • Hans Jacob Debes (1940–2003), historian.
  • Hans Jacob Joensen (1938–present), first (modern era) Bishop of the Faroe Islands.
  • Sigurð Joensen (1911–1993), lawyer, author, politician.
  • Kristin Hervør Lützen, actress

<gallery>

Image:Faroe Islands, Eysturoy, Gjógv (1).jpg|Village centre

Image:Vue fra Gjógv (Færøerne).JPG|Gjógv in spring

Image:Gjogv.jpg|Gjógv in its natural setting

Image:Gjógv, Faroe Islands.JPG|Gjógv

Image:Faroe Islands, Eysturoy, Gjógv (2).jpg|Gjógv Church

File:Gjógv.mindsemærke.jpg|Memorial of people who lost their lives at sea

Image:Gjógv, Faroe Islands (winter 2).JPG|Winter scene in Gjógv

File:Gjógv.Eysturoy.1.jpg|Gjógv

</gallery>

See also

  • List of towns in the Faroe Islands

References

  • Faroeislands.dk: Gjógv Images and description of all cities on the Faroe Islands.
  • Gjáar municipality website (In Faroese only.)
  • Gjógv on Google Maps
  • Gjógv guesthouse
  • Staðanøvn við Gjógv Excellent geographical website, which regrettably enough is only in Faroese, despite having homepages in English and German. The heading "Myndasavn" leads to an extensive image gallery.