Eysýsla (ˈœyˌsyːslɑ)

Eysýsla is the second largest island in the Eyjaskeggjaheim island group, second only to Eyju. Like Borgaholmr, there is some controversary about whether it does belong in the Eyjaskeggjaheim group, as some cartographers believe it is more properly a part of the Kotimaa island group. It has an even mix of Eyjamaður and Saarelainen people, and there are some who think the Eysýslafólk (as the residents of Eysýsla call themselves) represent their own distinct ethnic group within the Norður Islands. There is also a small community of Zmei on the island, one of the few places they can be found outside Buyan - their community is centered on the village of Karski on the island's southern coast.
The largest settlement on the island is technically not on Eysýsla itself, but on the smaller island of Kuu. Kuu is connected to Eysýsla via a natural causeway that floods in high tide, and the town of Saareke is located on the best harbor between the two islands. The natural causeway has been augmented with a bridge constructed above the tide line, so that it can be travelled at all times. Nearly all traffic from outside the area passes through the Saareke harbor, and then crosses over the causeway or via ferryboat to Eysýsla.

Notable Spirits

The most worshipped god of the Eysýslafólk is Jutta, queen of the birds. She is said to have hatched from an egg that fell from the heavens thousands of years ago, and crashed into the island. The egg's landing is said to have created great devastation, with fires and earthquakes. Jutta, emerging from the egg, was dismayed by the destruction caused by her birth and summoned the birds of the world to her to aid in the survival of the humans who were struggling to live in the aftermath. In some stories, this occurred before humans came to Eysýsla, and it is the Zmei who were nearly obliterated by the coming of Jutta.
The birds traveled far and wide, and brought back food and supplies to succor the survivors of Jutta's arrival. They proclaimed her a goddess and queen of the birds, and she is worshipped as such to this day. Her priests are sometimes granted the knowledge of the bird's language, and killing birds for food is considered sacred and always accompanied with a prayer of thanks to Jutta.

Geography

Eysýsla is a low-lying island, with the highest point less than 200 feet above sea level. The coastal waters are notably shallow around most of the island, and in some places a person can wade in waist-deep water for nearly three-quarters of a mile from the beach. One notable feature on the island is Juttavatn, a lake formed in the crater where Jutta's egg landed. This lake is almost perfectly circular, and is considered a sacred place by the worshippers of Jutta. It stretches about 360 ft across, and a stone wall has been built around it to mark the bounds of the holy site. The wall is eight feet thick and nine feet high, and has four gates aligned to the cardinal directions.

Ecosystem

Eysýsla is mostly covered in forests, with a wide array of plant and animal species living there. The shores are well-known breeding grounds for grey seals, especially on the islets off the western shore. The island also has an uncommon feature known as an alvar - these are open plains where a thin layer of soil covers a layer of limestone, and is known to have sparse vegetation.

Maps

• 

  Eysýsla & Kuu

Type

Island

Location under

Eyjaskeggjaheim

Included Locations

• Juttavatn
• Karski

Geographic Details

Location: Northeastern Region
Latitude: 62.25 degrees North
Longitude: 37.5 degrees East
Average Elevation: 16 ft
Highest Point: 184 ft
Lowest Point: -3 ft
Area: 1,032 sq mi