
Map of Lítla Dímun

Lítla Dímun
'Lítla Dímun' is a small island between the islands of
Suðuroy and
Stóra Dímun in the
Faroe Islands. It is the smallest of the main 18 islands, being less than 1 km² in area, and is the only uninhabited one. The island can be seen from the villages
Hvalba and
Sandvík.
The southern 1/3 of the island is sheer cliff, with the rest rising to the mountain of
Slættirnir (414 m). The island is only inhabited by feral
sheep and seabirds. Getting ashore is difficult, and can be performed only in perfect weather. The cliffs can be climbed with the aid of ropes placed by the sheep owners.
The island features as the site of a battle in the
13th century work
Færeyinga Saga (Saga of the Faroese).
The name means "Little Dímun", in contrast to
Stóra Dímun or "Great Dimun". According to the Faroese placename expert Jakobsen, "Dimun" may represent a pre-Norse, Celtic placename element, with 'di' representing "two".
External links
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Website of Stóra Dímun with Lítla Dímun in background (aerial photos)