The Faroe Islands’ Floating Lake is One of many Most Magical Optical Illusions

By most requirements world wide, a 1.31-square-mile lake might not look like an enormous deal. However not solely is Lake Sørvágsvatn the most important within the Faroe Islands, it additionally makes guests query their perspective, fairly actually, due to an optical phantasm that makes the physique of water seem to “float” above the ocean.

Situated on Vágar, one of many 18 islands that makes up the Danish archipelago between Iceland and Scotland, the lake sits comparatively calmly among the many rolling inexperienced hills that result in dramatic rock formations. 

However catch the angle excellent and also you’ll instantly perceive why the positioning has been dubbed “the lake above the ocean.” Actually talking, that nickname is likely to be right because the lake’s waters do stream out to the Atlantic Ocean. What’s so mind-boggling is that the best way the perspective comes collectively to make it seem as if Lake Sørvágsvatn, also referred to as Leitisvatn, is really hovering above the ocean.

Very like Firefall in Yosemite, the place the daylight displays by way of Horsetail Waterfall and makes it appear to be it’s flaming, or Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni salt flats, the place the sheets of white confuse the views of distance and sizes, the Faroe Islands’ personal visible trickery is solely all about angles and sightlines.

On the finish of the lake is a 98.4-feet-high waterfall known as Bøsdalafossur operating over the sting to the Atlantic Ocean, virtually like nature’s model of an infinity pool. Including to the drama is the ocean stack Geituskoradrangur that can be seen from the identical facet because the falls. 

The hike out the perspective is a simple path that takes between 45 minutes to an hour to succeed in Trælanípa mountain. A mountain climbing price is required on the sales space close to the trailhead on the most important gate.

Whereas strolling alongside the pathways will make you’re feeling fully enveloped by the good outside, it’s really in shut proximity to the island’s requirements, together with being a few five-minute drive from Vagar Airport and the trailhead being adjoining to the village of Miðvágur.