Sandoy (“Sand Island”) is the first of the five southern islands that make up the Faroe chain, the fifth biggest of all the Faroe Islands, an autonomous region of the Kingdom of Denmark.
It also refers to the region that includes this island along with Skúvoy and Stóra Dímun.
As of January 2020, the largest population centre on the island is the village of Sandur with a population of 532.
Other settlements include Skarvanes, Skopun, Skálavík, Húsavík and Dalur.
Sandoy gets its name from the large beach at Sandur, and the general sandy soil of the island. It is the only island with dunes.
There are similarly named islands, Sanday in the Orkney Islands, Sanday in the Inner Hebrides and Sandøy in Norway.
The Sandoyartunnilin connects between the centre of the island and Gamlarætt on Streymoy. Construction started in 2019 and the tunnel opened for traffic on 21 December 2023.
Agriculture
The island is considered the best island for agriculture due to its fertile sandy soil. The largest potato farm in the country is located on the island. And people who have gardening interests have generally an easier time getting plants to grow here.
On 19 August 2015 the agricultural union “Veltan” was founded for people who have an interest in gardening and farming, their aim is to improve conditions for a self-sustaining way of life, and agricultural businesses.
The island supports 6,878 sheep, not including lambs. There are two grind beaches used for whaling, in Húsavík and Sandur.
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