An island with a crown of clouds
Faroe Islands (far. Føroyar, Feryar - "Sheep
Islands") are a group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean between
Scotland (Shetland Islands) and Iceland. They
are an autonomous region of Denmark. Since
1948 the Faroe Islands are free to decide almost all matters of state, except
for defence and foreign policy.
Luytla-Duymun (far. Lítla Dímun - «Small
Duymun") is the smallest of the 18 Faroe Islands, located between Scotland
and Iceland.
Small Duymun’s area
is only 0.8 sq km, with the highest point on the island Mount Ravan,
which is 414 meters high. The
island is uninhabited, except for those cases when it is covered with clouds or
has a white “cloud hat” on top.
In 1850 the island was sold at auction for 5,000
Danish thalers. During the
bidding royal representatives artificially inflated price in order to enrich
the royal treasury.
Small Duymun has never been occupied. Its only inhabitants are puffins and
sheep, which where grazed here since ancient times. Small Duymun has the poorest flora of all Faroe islands, comprising
a total of only eight plant species.
In summer 2006, 28 young people from Iceland (11),
Norway (8), Greenland (3) and the Faroe Islands (6) under the project
"Silent Island" lived for three days on the Small Duymune. They
had no cell phones, no cameras, no clock, no TV. But everyone had a pen
and notebook in which they were to describe their impressions of life in
complete isolation, silence and solitude. Based on these records they planned
to write a play.
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