Sørvágsvatn (Leitisvatn)

The lake that appears to float above the ocean — one of the most photographed illusions in northern Europe

Sørvágsvatn — also called Leitisvatn — is the largest lake in the Faroe Islands, stretching about 6 km along the southern coast of Vágar. It drains over the cliff edge via the Bøsdalafossur waterfall, which plunges directly into the sea below. The combination of the lake, the cliff, and the angle of the headland creates an optical illusion: from the hiking viewpoint, the lake appears to sit well above the ocean surface, hovering over it like a raised basin.

The trailhead starts a short walk south of Sørvágur. The path to the main viewpoint takes around an hour each way and is well-marked but can be muddy after rain — waterproof boots make a difference. The full loop continuing to the Bøsdalafossur viewpoint adds another hour. There is a guided tour available from Sørvágur that operates daily in summer, which is the only way to access the best vantage point legally (the landowner charges a small fee and the guided option includes transport).

Come on a clear day if you can. Fog and low cloud are common on Vágar, and the photograph everyone has seen requires visibility across the sea. Early morning and evening light are the most dramatic.

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A story
Sørvágsvatn sits at about 30 metres above sea level, but because the cliffs drop sharply between the lake and the water below, and the lake extends out over them when seen from the right angle, photographs make it look as though the lake is suspended in mid-air above the Atlantic. The effect is not a camera trick — it is a genuine quirk of the landscape, and seeing it in person is as startling as the photograph suggests.