Lake Sørvágsvatn is blowing minds with its location and the perspective it offers to visitors. Is it actually on the edge of a cliff? For centuries, humans have been fascinated by optical illusions. It’s even more fascinating when these illusions appear in nature.

Lake Sørvágsvatn gives travelers different angles, leading it to be dubbed an illusion-causing lake. The lake, also known asLeitisvatn Lake, sits as the largest lake on Island Vágar of the Faroe Islands.

Lake Sørvágsvatn proves that perspective matters. The below picture, taken from 100 meters above at an angle, makes the lake appear much higher than the North Atlantic ocean.

In the above picture, the lake appears to sit on the same level as the cuesta. However, looking at the pH๏τo below, viewers can tell the lake sits on a gentle slope. The below picture gives a direct view of the Bøsdalafossur waterfall, which is the Lake’s outlet into the Atlantic.

Higher cuestas surround Lake Sørvágsvatn at 252 and 376 meters on each side. Those cuestas obscure the view at different angles, thus adding to the illusion. The cuestas also funnel water to Bøsdalafossur waterfall.

The name Sørvágsvatn means ‘The lake of Sørvágur’ and covers an area of 3.4 square km. That’s at least three times bigger than the next largest lake on the island, Lake Fjallavatn.

A Unique History

The island also held a historical role during the British occupancy of the Faroe Islands in World War II. Sitting near important geopolitical points, the British built an airfield on Faroe to be used against to potential German warships. The British Royal Engineers built the airport to the west of the Lake Sørvágsvatn, a point obscured from enemies.