Stóra Dímun

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Stóra Dímun
Island
Map of Stóra Dímun
Location within the Faroe Islands
Coordinates: 61°41′N 6°44′W / 61.683°N 6.733°W / 61.683; -6.733Coordinates: 61°41′N 6°44′W / 61.683°N 6.733°W / 61.683; -6.733
State  Kingdom of Denmark
Constituent country  Faroe Islands
Area
 • Total 2.5 km2 (1.0 sq mi)
Population (1 January 2006)
 • Total 7
 • Density 2.8/km2 (7.3/sq mi)
Time zone GMT (UTC+0)
 • Summer (DST) EST (UTC+1)
Postal code FO 286
Calling code 298

Stóra Dímun is an island in the southern Faroe Islands, sometimes only referred to as Dímun.

The name 'Stóra Dímun' means 'Great Dimun', in contrast to 'Lítla Dímun' or 'Little Dimun'. According to the Faroese placename expert Jakobsen, 'Dimun' may represent a pre-Norse, Celtic placename element, with 'di' representing 'two'.

The island is accessible from sea only during periods of clear and calm weather, but regular helicopter service is available twice a week through the whole year.

Before 1920 the ruins of an old church were present, but these are no longer existent. There are two peaks on Stóra Dímun: Høgoyggj (396 m) and Klettarnir (308 m).

Population

The island was once home to many families from the 13th century onwards, but now only two families of seven people make their home on the island.

Important Bird Area

The island has been identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International because of its significance as a breeding site for seabirds, especially European Storm Petrels (15,000 pairs), Atlantic Puffins (40,000 pairs) and Black Guillemots (50 pairs).[1]

Cuisine

Gallery

  • Aerial view of Stóra Dímun
    Stamp FO 475 of Postverk Føroya
    Issued: 16 Jan 2004

  • Coast of Stóra Dímun
    Stamp FO 490 of Postverk Føroya
    Issued: 2004

  • The farm on the remote island of Stóra Dímun

  • Puffins (Fratercula arctica) on Stóra Dímun

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International. (2012). Important Bird Areas factsheet: Stóra Dímun. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 2012-02-24.

External links

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