Havnará, fólk og fæ gjøgnum tvær øldir (1830-2024)

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.