Facts about the Faroe Islands

General

Official Name: The Faroe Islands (in Faroese - Føroyar) The country is an autonomous, self-governing region within the Kingdom of Denmark.

Land / Geology

The Faroe Islands is situated in the heart of the North Atlantic, midway between Iceland and Norway and some 186 miles north of Scotland. The archipelago consists of 18 islands, 17 of which are inhabited. The land mass is a mere 545 square miles, about the size of Cape Cod.

The Faroe Islands is a remnant of a vast volcanic plateau, believed to be some 50 - 60 million years old. Layer upon layer of lava and ash were laid down over the millennia, giving the Faroe Islands a distinctive layer-cake look that is especially unique. Geologists love to wander the mountains and valleys, looking for traces of volcanic sills or the scoring of glaciers. There are small amounts of coal as well, derived from relatives of the giant sequoias of the western United States.

The archipelago is essentially arrowhead shaped, with the point to the south. The islands, for the most part, are divided by narrow sounds. The western shoreline of most of the islands is dominated by soaring cliffs, while the eastern shore is cleft with broad fjords. The headland of Enniberg on the island of Norðoy, which soars over 2450 feet straight up, is considered the highest promontory in the world.

Climate

The climate is remarkably mild given its northern, oceanic location. Winter temperatures rarely descend below freezing. Its maritime location, however, means that summertime temperatures likewise rarely soar above 60º F. The climate is a consequence of a mixture of the Gulf Stream and the cold Arctic currents descending from north.

The People

The earliest settlers arrived around 800 AD, part of a steady migration of ancient Vikings from Western Norway via Scotland and Ireland. The country was remote and fertile, a good place to make a new beginning. Remnants of the early settlements are located in beautiful valleys that extend down to the sea and modern-day villages still flourish where the ancient Vikings established their homesteads.

Although the country is remote and relatively unknown, and while sheep still out-number the population of some 47,000, the country is quite sophisticated. Almost every family has a computer, the outer islands are wirelessly linked to the Internet, mobile telephones are ubiquitous, and even grandmothers use PDAs to make their grocery lists.

The Language

Faroese is related to other Scandinavian languages. Because of the relative isolation of the country, linguists feel that the language is quite close to the Old Norse spoken by the ancient Vikings. You can find a detailed discussion of the language here. English is widely spoken. Children learn English at an early age in school.

Religion

The Faroese accepted Christianity around 1000 AD and for many years the country was controlled by the Catholic Church. The Reformation arrived around 1536 and the country followed the directive of the Danish King to adopt Lutheranism. Freedom of worship is guaranteed and today the country is around 90% Evangelical Lutheran. Other religious faiths and groups include, the Plymouth Brethren, the Catholic Church, the Bahá'í Faith, Jehovah's Witness, Seventh Day Adventists and various local evangelical sects.

Economy

The economy of the Faroe Islands is dominated by the fishing and aquaculture industry. The standard of living is quite high and comparable to other Nordic countries. Diversification is underway: oil has been found, but remains undeveloped, IT companies are exporting their software around the world, and tourism is becoming more and more a key element of the economy. The Faroe Islands is not a member of the EU nor of the UN.