The Sorvagsvatn Lake Illusion also known as “Lake over the Ocean,” is an optical illusion that makes it appear as though a lake is floating high above the ocean. In reality, the lake, called Lake Sørvágsvatn, is situated on the island of Vágar in the Faroe Islands, and it is just a few meters above sea level.
Another factor that contributes to the illusion is the difference in color between the lake and the ocean. The lake is a darker color than the ocean, which creates a contrast that makes the lake appear to be floating.
The Sorvagsvatn lake illusion is created by a combination of perspective and contrast, which make it appear as though a lake is floating high above the ocean.
If you are interested, scroll down to learn more about it.
Table of Contents
- What is the Sorvagsvatn lake illusion?
- How does the Sorvagsvatn lake illusion?
- Some Similar Illusions
- References and Resources
What is the Sorvagsvatn lake?
Sorvagsvatn is a lake located on the island of Vagar in the Faroe Islands, which is an archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean.
The lake is situated on a cliff that is about 30 meters above sea level and surrounded by rugged terrain and steep cliffs. The lake has a unique shape, with two distinct sections connected by a narrow channel.
The western section is larger and deeper than the eastern section, which is shallower and more elongated. The lake is fed by several small streams that flow into it from the surrounding hills, and it has no visible outlet. Instead, it drains into the ocean through underground channels.
The lake is situated near the airport on the island of Vagar and is part of the Vágar Island Tourist Information Centre’s hiking trail network. Visitors can hike to the edge of the cliff overlooking the lake to take in the stunning view, which includes rolling hills, grassy meadows, and the ocean in the distance.
Sorvagsvatn is a natural wonder and one of the must-visit destinations in the Faroe Islands, with its unique geography and stunning optical illusion that makes it appear as if the lake is floating above the sea.
How does the Sorvagsvatn lake illusion work?
The Sorvagsvatn Lake Illusion also known as “Lake over the Ocean,” is an optical illusion that makes it appear as though a lake is floating high above the ocean. In reality, the lake, called Lake Sørvágsvatn, is situated on the island of Vágar in the Faroe Islands, and it is just a few meters above sea level.
Another factor that contributes to the illusion is the difference in color between the lake and the ocean. The lake is a darker color than the ocean, which creates a contrast that makes the lake appear to be floating.
The Sorvagsvatn lake illusion is created by a combination of perspective and contrast, which make it appear as though a lake is floating high above the ocean.
Some Similar Illusions
There are several other illusions that involve perspective and visual cues that make objects appear larger or smaller, closer or farther away, or even floating or levitating. Here are a few examples:
- Forced perspective illusion: This illusion uses the principles of perspective to create an optical illusion that makes objects appear larger or smaller than they really are. For example, a person standing closer to the camera can appear much larger than a person standing farther away, even if they are actually the same size.
- Ames room illusion: In this illusion, a trapezoidal room is built with a false back wall, which makes one corner of the room appear much farther away than the other. This creates the illusion that two people of the same size can be drastically different in height, depending on where they are standing in the room.
- Floating cube illusion: This illusion uses a combination of perspective and shading to make a flat image of a cube appear three-dimensional and floating above a surface.
- Penrose stairs illusion: Also known as the “impossible staircase,” this illusion uses the principles of perspective and geometry to create a staircase that appears to loop back on itself, creating an impossible structure.
These are just a few examples of the many optical illusions that use perspective, contrast, and other visual cues to trick our brains into perceiving things in unexpected ways.
References and Resources
In addition to the Sorvagsvatn lake illusion, check out these Sorvagsvatn Fun Facts and Check out our complete list of illusions.