Leirvík, Faroe Islands

Leirvík is a town on the Faroe Islands and was an important regional ferry harbour at the east coast of the second-largest island Eysturoy. Leirvík has 867 inhabitants It was the only town in the municipality of Leirvík, however on 1 January 2009, it merged with Gøtu kommuna to make the new municipality called Eysturkommuna.Leirvík is important for its fishing industry.The Norðoyatunnilin, a submarine tunnel to Klaksvík to the east, was opened in April 2006.HistoryArchaeological excavations have shown that the town was first settled the 9th century by the Vikings. It is said that all inhabitants died in 1349 because of the Black Death.