island of the North Frisian group, in the North Sea off Esbjerg, southwestern Jutland, Denmark. Three-quarters of the island consists of beaches, dunes, heath, and marshland. Its settlements are Nordby and Sønderho. Crown property until it was purchased by its inhabitants in 1741, it supported a large fishing fleet in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was popularized as a resort by the Jutland nobility about 1900, and its present economy depends on tourism and daily commuting (via ferry) to Esbjerg. The Fanø Maritime and Costume Museum at Nordby memorializes the island's long seafaring tradition. Area 22 square miles (56 square km). Pop. (2008 est.) 3,192.