The islands

Here you will find some of the history of several of the islands in the World Heritage Area that are not mentioned with their own pages. The overview below is organized in alphabetical order.

The name Tåvær means "two rams" and is related to the shape of the island. The island has had three households, and was inhabited until 1985.

Søla is a hat-brake island and a special landmark 12 nautical miles west of Vega. The steep mountain rises 432 meters high and fills almost the entire land area of about two by two kilometers. This is the only mountain island in the Vega Islands.

In recent years, the old homestead on Store Emårsøy has been rebuilt by Turid Næss and Gisle Ebbesen as Vega Kystgård. They are farmers on Vega and have carried out extensive restoration work on the island.

Skogsholmen is a large, hilly island, nine nautical miles north of Vega. The fast ferry between Sandnessjøen and Gardsøy (Vega) has a signal call here. Skogsholmen Gjestehus is open during the summer months, offering food and accommodation.

Skjærvær fishing village consists of a large island and several smaller islets and skerries, and is located at the far end of Fallgarden. The island towers well above the sea with the prayer house at the highest point.

Omnøy is the only island in the World Heritage Site that still has settlement. The name of the island probably derives from the male name Amund.

The fishing village of Muddvær is located 4.5 nautical miles south of Vega. As an egg and down fishing village, the island is still very active with four or five eider keepers. In written sources, Muddvær is mentioned as one of the farms that had a settlement before the 17th century.

Kilvær is located north of Vega, on a level with Skogsholmen. The weather consists of 50-60 islands, islets and reefs. The main island is low and elongated, and the settlement is located on the back of the island.

Lånan is the largest egg and down nest in the Vegaøyan World Heritage Site, with five families of bird watchers making almost 1,200 nests in 2020.