Mikladalur

Mikladalur meaning Great-valley (Danish: Mygledal) is the largest of four villages on the Faroese island of Kalsoy in the municipality of Klaksvíkar.

The 2005 population was 44. The town's stone church dates from 1856. A tunnel to Trøllanes was completed in 1985.

Legend of the Selkie

Mikladalur has a legend of a selkie/sealwoman. Seals were believed to be former humans who voluntarily sought death in the ocean. Once a year, on Twelfth Night, they were allowed to come on land, strip off their skins and amuse themselves as human beings, dancing and enjoying themselves.

A young farmer from tMikladalur once went to the beach to watch the selkies dance. There he sees a beautiful selkie maid shedding her seal skin, and he is hit by an intense desire for her. He hides the skin, so that she cannot go back to sea at the end of the night, and confronts her, and forces her to marry him. The man kept her skin in a chest, and kept the key with him both day and night. Like this they lived for several years, having several children together. One day when out fishing, he discovers that he has forgotten to bring his key, and rows back home with his power. When he returns home, the his wife has escaped back to sea, leaving their children behind, but has put out the fire and hid away any sharp objects, so that they wouldn't be harmed.