Hvalvík

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Hvalvík in the winter
Photo: Erik Christensen

Hvalvík means "Whale Bay", for it is a good place for whaling. This photo shows a portal of old whale bones.

Hvalvík is a village in the Faroe Islands, located in a valley on Streymoy's east coast.

Population: 210
Postal code (Zip): FO 430
Location: 62°11′23″N, 7°1′51″W
Municipality: Hvalvíkar

Hvalvík is the southern half of a twin-village situated on both sides of the valley. The villages are divided by the river Stórá. The northern half which is approximately the same size is called Streymnes. Together the two villages have a population of more than 400 inhabitants.

Hvalvík-Streymnes is a village that has grown rapidly during the past years, mainly because of its proximity to the capital Tórshavn.

[edit] Hvalvík Church

The Church in Hvalvik is a traditional wooden church dating from 1829, built because the old Church from 1700 was ruined in a storm. It is the oldest Church in the Faroe Islands. The Church is built with wood bought from a ship that ran aground in Saksun in 1828. The architecture is typically Faroese, with no stone foundations. The pulpit dates back to 1609 and was originally in the Church in Þórshöfn.

The Church was featured on Faroese stamps issued in 1997: