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

By most standards around the world, a 1.31-square-mile lake may not seem like a big deal. But not only is Lake Sørvágsvatn the largest in the Faroe Islands, it also makes visitors question their perspective, quite literally, because of an optical illusion that makes the body of water appear to “float” above the ocean.

Located on Vágar, one of the 18 islands that makes up the Danish archipelago between Iceland and Scotland, the lake sits relatively calmly among the rolling green hills that lead to dramatic rock formations. 

But catch the angle just right and you’ll immediately understand why the site has been dubbed “the lake above the ocean.” Literally speaking, that nickname might be correct since the lake’s waters do flow out to the Atlantic Ocean. What’s so mind-boggling is that the way the viewpoint comes together to make it appear as though Lake Sørvágsvatn, also known as Leitisvatn, is truly hovering above the sea.

Much like Firefall in Yosemite, where the sunlight reflects through Horsetail Waterfall and makes it look like it’s flaming, or Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni salt flats, where the sheets of white confuse the perspectives of distance and sizes, the Faroe Islands’ own visual trickery is simply all about angles and sightlines.

At the end of the lake is a 98.4-feet-high waterfall called Bøsdalafossur running over the edge to the Atlantic Ocean, almost like nature’s version of an infinity pool. Adding to the drama is the sea stack Geituskoradrangur that can also be seen from the same side as the falls. 

The hike out the viewpoint is an easy trail that takes between 45 minutes to an hour to reach Trælanípa mountain. A hiking fee is required at the booth near the trailhead at the main gate.

While walking along the pathways will make you feel completely enveloped by the great outdoors, it is actually in close proximity to the island’s necessities, including being about a five-minute drive from Vagar Airport and the trailhead being adjacent to the village of Miðvágur.