Tucked between Iceland and Norway in the North Atlantic Ocean, this self-governed group of 18 volcanic islands is fast becoming a favorite Nordic destination.
====================================================================(in the North Atlantic between Iceland and the Shetland Islands) The Faroe Islands are an archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean and an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. Located 320 km (200 mi.) north-northwest of the United Kingdom, the islands have a total area of about 1,400 square km (540 sq. mi.) with a population of 54,676 as of August 2023. The terrain is rugged, and the subpolar oceanic climate is windy, wet, cloudy, and cool. There are 17 inhabited islands and many islets and reefs. The main islands are Streymoy, Eysturoy, Vágar, Suduroy, Sandoy, Bordoy, and Svínoy.
+ With rolling green hills, dramatic cliff faces, and attraqctive coastal towns, there is something for everyone to enjoy here.
+ Music lovers may already recognize this region for its festival scene -- it typically hosts five live music festivals throughout the year -- but adventurers are also starting to catch wind of the archipelago's steep cliffs, hiking trails, waterfalls, and rocky coastlines.
+ These islands are high and rugged with perpendicular cliffs, the highest at Mount Slaettara on Eystur Island, and flat summits separated by narrow ravines. The climate is oceanic and mild, with little variation in temperature and frequent fog and rain. The warm North Atlantic Current keeps the harbors free of ice. Natural vegetation is moss, grass, and mountain bog. The islands are naturally treeless because of the cool summers, strong westerly winds, and frequent gales. There are no toads, reptiles, or indigenous land mammals; hares, rats, and mice came on ships. Seabirds are numerous and were in earlier times economically important.
+ The Faroese are of Scandinavian origin; many are descendants of Norwegian Vikings who colonized the islands about 800 CE. About a fourth of the population lives in Tórshavn, the remainder live in small settlements, almost all of which are on the coasts. The islands' name first appeared as Faereyiar (ca. 1225), meaning “Sheep Islands.” First settled by Irish monks (ca. 700), the islands were colonized by the Vikings (ca. 800) and were Christianized by the king of Norway (ca. 1000). The Faroes became a Norwegian province in 1035 and passed to Denmark with the rest of Norway in 1380. Separated from Norway administratively in 1709, they were attached to the diocese of Zealand and became a Danish royal trade monopoly. During World War II Great Britain controlled the Faroes while the Germans occupied Denmark, a situation that strengthened demands for home rule. In 1948 the islands were granted self-government under the authority of Denmark The University of the Faroe Islands in Tórshavn was founded in 1965.
+ Featured here is Tórshavn; the port and capital of the Faroe Islands, it is located in the southern part on the east coast of Streymoy.
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