Nykur (The Nix of Sørvágsvatn)
Nykur is a shapeshifting water spirit that inhabits lakes, most famously Sørvágsvatn on Vágar Island. It appears most often as a beautiful white horse that lures people onto its back, then gallops into the lake to drown them. A popular tale tells of two brothers playing at the lakeshore. The older brother climbed onto the horse, but the younger called his brother by name—'Nikkolas'—which sounded like 'Nix.' Hearing his own name, the water horse lost power and retreated into the lake, saving both boys. Nykur can also appear in other forms. An illuminated sculpture by Póla Skarðenni was installe