The Faroe Islands’ Lake Sørvágsvatn Appears to Float Above the Ocean
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 make up the 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.” That nickname is pretty spot-on, as the lake’s waters do flow out to the Atlantic Ocean. What’s so mind-boggling is the way the viewpoint comes together to make it appear as though Lake Sørvágsvatn, also known as Leitisvatn, is hovering above the sea. Much like Firefall in Yosemite, where the sunlight reflects through the Horsetail Waterfall and makes it lo