Norðoyri has an elongated settlement character and is sited along the eastern shore of the fjord Borðoyarvík that opens up in a SE direction.

It descends rather steeply from the central mountain-ridge, 400 to 563 m high, and specially in the SE part there are steep slopes and this outfield is generally regarded as difficult to tend and dangerous, as many sheep are lost there in severe winters.

These journals (the Matrasdagbøkur) have been preserved and give an unprecedented insight in faroese farming during a large part of the 19th century (1813–1892).

This happened because of potatoes' weather resistance, stability and more flexible harvesting period compared to grain.

The Matras family still owns real estate in Norðoyri, e.g. on Fornavegur 53, Flatnavegur 59, Túnið 3 and one of the 14 boat sheds.