Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: In this article I examine the interaction between the Stream of Tórshavn (“Havnará”), humans and animals from approximately 1830-2024, drawing on the field of environmental history. The Stream of Tórshavn was used for drinking water and washing until 1898. A new water system was established in the late 19th century since the stream was perceived as polluted. Subsequently, the stream was mainly used as a sewage system. When cars arrived in Tórshavn in the 1920s it was considered necessary to establish new roads. Due to pollution and the new traffic, sections of the stream were concealed from the 1920s and forward. In time, people began discussing reopening parts of the stream. In 1984 an architectural proposal was presented with the aim to reconstruct a part of the stream for aesthetic and recreational purposes. While this proposal was not implemented, a similar project was successfully executed in 2023. This article illustrates and discusses how the use and perceptions of a natural phenomenon – in this case a stream – changes and adjusts to different needs and wishes. Úrtak Í greinini lýsi eg samspælið millum Havnará, fólk og fæ í Havn frá áleið ár 1830 til 2024. Greinin tekur støði í umhvørvissøgu, har dentur verður lagdur á at kanna samanhangir millum menniskju og umhvørvi í søguligum sjónarhorni. Havnará var bæði matará og tváttá fram til 1898. Seinast í 1800-árunum varð hildið, at áin var dálkað og býurin fekk tí nýggja vatnveiting. Áin varð ikki longur brúkt sum matará, men í alt størri mun sum kloakk. Tá bilar komu til Havnar í 1920-árunum varð hildið, at neyðugt var við nýggjum vegum. Dálking og nýggja ferðslan høvdu við sær, at partar av ánni vóru lokaðir frá seinast í 1920-árunum og fram. Við tíðini fóru fólk at kjakast um at lata ánna upp aftur. Í 1984 kom eitt arkitektuppskot um at endurskapa ein part av ánni við fagurfrøðiligum og trivnaðarligum endamáli. Uppskotið bleiv ikki framt í verki, men í 2023 varð ein líknandi verkætlan framd. Greinin lýsir og viðger, hvussu nýtslan og fatanin av einum náttúrufyribrigdi – í hesum føri eini á – broytist og lagar seg eftir ymsum tørvum og ynskjum.
DOI: 10.18602/dcht0h10
Author: Tráin Petursson Nónklett
Institution: University of the Faroe Islands
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4409399773