Slættanes

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Slættanes [ˈslatːaneːs] is a town on the Island of Vágar in the Faroes, which is now abandoned.

Slættanes lies - like the also abandoned village of Víkar - on the northern coast of the island. Its location is considered to be remarkably beautiful. It was founded in 1835 by a man named Hendrik Thomasen and belonged to the municipality of Sandavágur in the south. During its best years (1945 to 1950) around 130 people lived in the village, but the average population was around 70. There were 12 houses in Slættanes. However, in 1965 the last inhabitants left the community because of its relatively isolated location.

A road was never built to Slættanes, but there are many trails there. One goes to Sandavágur in the southeast, another to Sørvágur to the south, and yet another goes west to Gásadalur. In the village itslef there are no streets or discernable paths. The houses stand dispersed across the meadow and now serve as summer houses for the former residents and their relatives.

Postal service once arrived by foot from Sørvágur, and then later by a regular boat service from Vestmanna.

[edit] References

• The information in this article is based on a translation of its German equivalent.
• Postverk Føroya: "Postal History of Slættanes", in: News from the Faroe Islands 1/2003 (with photos) (in the internet)
• Faroestamps.fo - Slættanes