Faroe islands is a group of islands that are located in the Atlantic Ocean, northwest of Scotland.

Where are the Faroe Islands on the map

Geographically, they are located closer to island state Iceland is officially subordinate to the Kingdom of Denmark. In practice, the islands are governed independently; only a small part of issues, such as foreign policy and defense, are discussed with the Danish government.

The Faroe Islands include 18 large and many small islands, which form the so-called Faroe Archipelago. The largest island of the archipelago is Boroy Island, with an area of ​​about 95 km², on which there are 8 small towns. The capital of the Faroe Islands is the city of Tórshavn, which is home to about 20 thousand people, while being the most densely populated area. Located on the island of Streymoy, the first largest and most important port of the archipelago is located here.

Weather in the Faroe Islands

The weather in the Faroe Islands can hardly be called mild - it rains almost all year round, the wind does not subside at all, the average temperature in summer rarely exceeds +15 °C, and winter is wet and cold. Despite all this, the coastal waters do not freeze here, since the islands lie on the path of the Gulf Stream.

This climate has led to the fact that there are practically no trees on the islands, except for sparse stands of conifers, maples and ash trees. But almost the entire surface of the islands is covered with mosses and lichens, since the islands have all the conditions for these plants.

Fauna of the Faroe Islands

The fauna of the archipelago is quite diverse. The waters surrounding the islands are inhabited by a large variety of fish and sea animals; harp seals have established their rookeries on some islands; many colonies of northern birds live here, as well as a local breed of sheep.

Economy of the Faroe Islands

The economy of the Faroe Islands is based on: fishing, sheep farming, agriculture, and light industry. A separate point of the economy is tourism, which accounts for about 62% of GDP.

Each of the islands of the archipelago is a small, unusually beautiful world:

  • Small houses under multi-colored roofs;
  • wide meadows with flocks of sheep under a heavy blue sky;
  • dark ocean waters washing half a kilometer of coastal cliffs;
  • fogs engulfing entire islands;
  • Lutheran churches;
  • deep caves;
  • sand dunes;
  • mountain lakes –

You can admire all this and much more once you find out where the Faroe Islands are.

If you are an amateur exquisite relaxation in a five-star hotel with swimming pools and well-trained staff - a holiday in the Faroe Islands is not for you. But if you are a lover of real nature, genuine culture and history, then this vacation will be unforgettable for you, after which you will want to come back here again and again!

The Faroe Islands are a small territory within Denmark located in the North Sea. Faroese means sheep and is so called because until the 19th century the main occupation of the islanders was raising sheep. They were sheared en masse and the wool was sent for export to the metropolis. That is, Denmark. During the colonization of Iceland, Greenland and North America by the Vikings, these islands were a necessary intermediate base where the longships of settlers and traders entered.

Faroe Islands from satellite

The language of the islanders, of whom there are about 50 thousand people, dates back to Old Norse and differs from Danish approximately as Russian differs from Ukrainian. Residents of the Sheep Islands sincerely believe that their basalt volcanic homeland is the remains of the sunken Atlantis. This encourages the population to actively dive in the surrounding waters, although the cold, harsh ocean conditions are little conducive to this. As soon as someone finds a flat stone at the bottom, joyful excitement grows. Yep, they found Atlantis. However, geologists debunk it over and over again, wearily explaining that these are pieces of basalt and nothing more.

Sheep wool continues to be mined on the islands. There are 80 thousand sheep for 50 thousand people, but, of course, this is not the main income of this region. The Faroe Islands have an impressive fishing and merchant fleet; accordingly, they actively fish in the surrounding waters, and also trade fishing licenses. Many more foreign companies register offshore companies here. And in general, the islands have a very impressive income. 45 thousand dollars per capita.


For a very long time, the Faroe Islands will eventually appear on the screen.


An absolutely magical place.

An utterly magical place.



Mailboxes in homes resemble old-style school bags.

The shape of residential mailboxes resembles that of old Soviet school satchels.


Blue mailbox for sending letters (as in Denmark).


Each car has a dial with an arrow on the window (to indicate parking time, as in Italy).

Every car has a clock dial with one hand on its windshield (to mark the time the car was parked, same as in Italy).


Car number.

A license plate.


There are two types of trash cans here. One type has a mesh cage around the bag - like the city trash can in Bologna.

There are two types of garbage cans here. The first, a mesh cage with a bag inside, is similar to the municipal trash cans in Bologna.


Another type, more common, is a wooden box with a metal lid.

The second and more common type is a wooden box with a metal lid.


All sockets in the country are equipped with switches. It may appear that these are overhead light switches. But no, these are socket switches.

All the power outlets in the country are equipped with on/off switches. One might think at first that these are light switches. But no, they’re actually power outlet switches.


You can pay for absolutely everything with a credit card. The seller does not pick up the card; the buyer must swipe it himself, then enter the PIN code.

You can pay for anything and everything with a card. The cashier never touches the card—the customer must swipe it himself and then enter his PIN.


A Faroese grave should be decorated with a plaster dove, symbolizing grief.

In the Faroes, a proper tombstone must be decorated with a plaster dove, which symbolizes mourning.

Tórshavn

Torshavn

On the world map Map


A trash can on the highway.

A trash can on the highway.


Regular urn.

A regular trash can.


A trash can with a dispenser with bags for cleaning up dog shit hanging above it.

A trash can with a dog poop bag dispenser on top.


Crosswalk.

A pedestrian crossing.


Street signs are mounted on complex pipes.

Street name signs are mounted on complex pipes.


In case of ice, chests with sand are placed near the roads (the model is exactly like in Vilnius).

Bins with sand are placed along the roads in case of ice (the type of bin is identical to the one in Vilnius).


At the sign pedestrian crossing The post is decorated with an additional reflective stick with white and blue.

The posts supporting pedestrian crossing signs are additionally marked with blue and white reflective sticks.


And the “Children” sign has a white and red stick. Reminiscent of the pillars at the signs in Faro.

The “Children” sign, meanwhile, has a red and white post. It resembles the traffic sign posts in Faro.


Half of the country's traffic lights can be captured in one photo.

Half the traffic lights which exist in the country fit into this one photo.



Bus schedule.


Bus stop.


Buses in the capital are electric and have a hump (somewhat reminiscent of Cuba).

The buses in the capital are all electric and have a hump (they bring Cuban buses to mind).


Capital homeless.

A homeless man in the city.


A manhole cover.


Dormitory area.

Skopun

Skopun

On the world map Map

Most of the Faroe Islands are connected by bridges or underground tunnels. You need to travel here by ferry.

Most of the Faroe Islands are connected to one another with bridges or underground tunnels. To get here, however, one must take a ferry.

The largest mailbox in the world is located here. I signed a bunch of postcards on the ferry especially for him. Imagine my disappointment when it turned out that there was no slot for letters in this box. At all. I walked around it from all sides - it’s just a non-functional monument to a Faroese mailbox. Moreover, it was still old, before the mail rebranding.

This is where the largest post box in the world is located. I wrote a bunch of postcards on the ferry specifically for the occasion. Imagine my disappointment when I discovered that this post box has no slot for mail. At all. I went all the way around to check—it’s just a dummy monument commemorating the Faroes post box. And the old one at that—the postal service has since undergone a rebranding.

The world remembers the Faroe Islands once a year - when local residents They spot a school of whales, drive it into the bay and kill it. The Greens are screaming like crazy, the activists are charging with energy long terms, bloggers have been sharing links to whale photos for a whole week. Then everyone is forgotten, and the Faroe Islands continue to live their lives.

The world is reminded of the Faroes’ existence once a year—when local residents spot a pod of whales, chase them into the bay and slaughter them. Environmentalists scream bloody murder, activists receive a fresh, long-lasting boost of energy, bloggers share links to photos of the whales for an entire week. Then everyone forgets, and the Faroes go on with their life.


They will outlive us all.

They will yet outlast us all.


Faroe Islands, Faroe Islands- a group of islands in the northern part Atlantic Ocean between Scotland (Shetland Islands) and Iceland. They are an autonomous region of the Kingdom of Denmark. Since 1948, the Faroe Islands have independently resolved almost all state issues, with the exception of defense and foreign policy.

Geographical data

The capital and main port of the islands is the city of Tórshavn (population approximately 19,200 in 2005), located on the southeast coast of Streymoy. Second by size locality Faroe Islands - Klaksvik (4773 people).

The Faroe Islands archipelago consists of 18 islands, 17 of which are inhabited. Main islands: Streymoy, Esturoy, Suduroy, Vagar, Sandoy, Bordoy. Largest island- Streymoy (373.5 km²). The total area of ​​all islands is 1395.74 km².

The distance to Iceland is 450 km, to Norway - 675 km, to Copenhagen - 1117 km. The economic maritime zone off the coast of the Faroe Islands is 200 nautical miles.

Administratively, the Faroe Islands are divided into 34 municipalities. There are 120 towns and villages in the Faroe Islands.

Most high point islands is the peak of Slattaratindur on the island of Esturoy - 882 m above sea level. The Faroe Islands are dotted with numerous fjords and have rugged coastline. The islands, for the most part, are treeless due to constant strong winds, although there are plantations of strong conifers, maple and mountain ash.

Population of the Faroe Islands

Population: 47,511 (July 2007)

The main language is Faroese.

Age structure of the population:

0-14 years: 20.6% (males 4882/females 4904);

15-64 years old: 65.3% (men 16,353/women 14,668);

65 years and older: 14.1% (men 3041/women 3663);

Average age: 35 years. for men: 34.8 years. for women: 35.3 years.

Average life expectancy: 79.49 years. for men: 76.06 years. for women: 82.93 years.

Number of children per woman: 2.15 children.

The active working population is 24,760 people.

Climate

The climate of the Faroe Islands is temperate maritime, with warm winters and cool, humid summers. The coldest month is January, temperature from 0°C to +4°C, the warmest month is July, temperature from +11°C to +17°C. The annual precipitation is 1600-2000 mm, precipitation (mainly in the form of rain) occurs approximately 280 days a year, most of it falls from September to January, fog is frequent.

Thanks to the tropical Gulf Stream, the water around the islands all year round has a temperature of about +10°C, which softens climatic conditions and provides ideal living conditions for fish and plankton.

Flora of the Faroe Islands

The islands, for the most part, are treeless due to constant strong winds, although conifers, maple, and mountain ash are sometimes found. Mosses and lichens are widespread.

Vegetation mainly consists of meadows, peat bogs and heathland.

The Faroe Islands have a climate similar to the south South America and Tierra del Fuego, from there several species of Nothofagus (Antarctic, birch) and Maytenus Magellanicus were introduced.

Fauna of the Faroe Islands

The fauna of the Faroe Islands is quite diverse. Of primary interest are the colonies of Arctic birds and the waters rich in fish (herring, halibut, cod) and sea animals that wash the Faroe Islands. The island is also home to the Faroese breed of sheep.

Colonies of guillemots settle on the Faroese cliffs.

There are harp seal rookeries on the Faroe Islands.

The science

The Faroes have their own university in Tórshavn, as well as the Faroese Academy of Sciences.

The University of Faroe was created in 1965 on the basis of the Faroese Scientific Society (1952) and includes three faculties: Faroese Language and Literature, Science and Technology, History and Social Sciences. The university prepares masters and bachelors of science. There are only 142 students studying at the university. The university budget is DKK 19 million per year.

The most famous representatives scientific world Faroese were:

  • Niels Ryberg-Finsen(Niels Ryberg Finsen) - an outstanding physiologist and physician, Nobel Prize laureate;
  • Wenceslaus-Ulrik Hammersheimb(Venceslaus Ulricus Hammershaimb) - famous philologist, creator of modern orthography of the Faroese language;
  • Suymun av Skyari(Símun av Skarði) - Faroese teacher, founder of the Faroese Folk School;
  • Jens-Christian Svabo(Jens Christian Svabo) - Faroese linguist and ethnographer.

Currently, active geological exploration studies are being carried out on the shelf North Sea. The subject of research by Faroese and foreign scientists is the Faroese ecosystem, as well as certain species of animals and plants in this region.

National holidays

  • January 1 New Year
  • movable date in March - April Maundy Thursday
  • movable date in March - April Good Friday
  • movable date in March - April Clean Monday
  • April 25 National Flag Day (Flaggdagur, working only in the first half of the day)
  • moving date in April-May - Fourth week of Easter
  • moving date in May - Ascension
  • moving date in May - Trinity
  • moving date in May - Spiritual Day
  • June 5th Danish Constitution Day (working only in the first half of the day)
  • July 28 St. Olav's Eve (working only in the first half of the day)
  • July 29 St. Olav's Day (Ólavsøkudagur) - National Day of the Faroe Islands
  • December 24 Christmas Eve
  • December 25th Christmas
  • December 26th Day of Gift Offering
  • December 31st New Year's Eve

Faroe Islands- a group of 18 islands in the North Atlantic Ocean between Scotland (Great Britain), from which they are located almost 400 km north, and Iceland, which is 420 km northwest of the Faroe Islands.

The Faroe Islands are an autonomous region of the Kingdom of Denmark. Since 1948, the islands have independently managed almost all matters except defense and foreign policy.

The capital and main port of the islands is the city of Tórshavn, located on the south-eastern coast of the island of Streymoy.

The Faroe Islands archipelago consists of 18 islands, 17 of which are inhabited. Main islands: Streymoy, Esturoy, Suduroy, Vagar, Sandoy, Bordoy. The largest island is Streymoy (373.5 km²). The total area of ​​all islands is 1395.74 km².

The distance to Iceland is 450 km, to Norway - 675 km, to Copenhagen - 1117 km. The economic maritime zone off the coast of the Faroe Islands is 200 nautical miles.

The highest point of the islands is the peak of Slattaratindur on the island of Esturoy - 882 m above sea level. The Faroe Islands are dotted with numerous fjords and have an indented coastline. The islands, for the most part, are treeless due to constant strong winds, although there are plantations of strong conifers, maple and mountain ash.

Climate

The climate of the Faroe Islands is temperate maritime, with cool winters and cool, humid summers. The coldest month is January, temperature from 0°C to +4°C, the warmest month is July, temperature from +11°C to +17°C. The annual precipitation is 1600-2000 mm, precipitation (mainly in the form of rain) occurs approximately 280 days a year, most of it falls from September to January, fog is frequent.

Thanks to the tropical Gulf Stream, the water around the islands has a temperature of about +10°C all year round, which softens climatic conditions and provides ideal conditions for the life of fish and plankton.

Last changes: 10/23/2009

Population of the Faroe Islands

The population is 48,856 people (2009), of which: 91.7% are Faroese; 5.8% - Danes; 0.4% - Icelanders; 0.2% - Norwegians; 0.2% are Poles.

Age structure of the population: 0-14 years: 21.6%; 15-64 years: 64%; 65 years and older: 14.4%.

The Faroese population professes mainly Lutheranism (80%). Lutheranism is a Protestant movement in Christianity.

The official language of the islands is Faroese (a modified version of Old Norse), almost all residents understand Danish, and English is widely spoken.

Currency

The official currency of the Faroe Islands is the Faroese krone. 1 Faroese crown is equal to 100 øre. The Faroese krone is equivalent to the Danish krone, meaning the exchange rate is the same. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 1000, 500, 200, 100 and 50 crowns, coins in denominations of 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 crown, 50 and 25 öre.

The islands' currency is issued by the National Bank of Denmark and is considered a variant of the Danish krone. Therefore, it does not have an official code International organization according to standardization and is not convertible. In most cases, to avoid confusion, it is called the Danish krone (DKK), since the local currency is strictly tied to this unit. Formally, the Danish kroner itself is not accepted in the Faroe Islands; only the local currency is used.

The best place to exchange currency is at banks and exchange offices; exchange fees are small. Banks are open from Monday to Friday from 9:30 to 16:00, on Thursday - until 18:00, and banks are closed on weekends.

You can exchange money in banks or at the exchange office of Vaugar Airport (open from 10.00 to 2.00). Typically, banks charge fairly small commissions for exchanges, but for the most part they only work with euros and Danish krone.

Widely accepted credit cards leading world systems (American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa).

Travel checks can be cashed at many banks and hotels or used to pay at most restaurants and stores.

Last changes: 10/23/2009

Communications

International code: +298.

Internet domain: .fo.

In case of emergency, call 112. reference Information - 118.

How to call

In order to call the Faroe Islands, you need to dial: 8 - dial tone - 10 - 298 - number of the called subscriber (no need to dial the area code).

mobile connection

Officially, there are two standards in force in the Faroe Islands mobile communications- NMT (analog) and GSM (digital). However, for last years GSM has practically replaced the analog standard, and now the coverage area covers almost the entire territory of the islands.

SIM cards from Faroese operators can be purchased at Teleshops kiosks, petrol stations, post offices, hotels and tourist offices.

Landline communications

The telephone system of the Faroe Islands is of a high standard and provides a full range of modern services. Public pay phones of Foroya Tele (Faroese Telecom), located in many in public places, work both with coins and credit cards.

Internet

Despite the fact that the Faroe Islands are a major intermediate point for many telecommunications systems linking Europe and North America, the level of network services here is relatively low. Only large business centers, hotels and post offices are provided with stable high-speed communications.

The public Internet cafe Telecentre (Teledepilin) ​​can only be found in the capital (Niels Finsensgota, 10). However, it is also possible to take advantage of the numerous access points located at the tourist information offices.

Last changes: 05/18/2010

Shopping

Most shops open at 09:00 or 10:00 and are open until 17:30. On Fridays, some close only at 19:00. On Saturdays, shops open at 09:00 and are open until 12:00, 14:00 or 16:00. On Sundays all shops are closed. Kiosks and shops at gas stations close at 23:00.

Travelers can receive a partial VAT refund (25%) when leaving the country. If in any store that has the announcement “Tax-free for Tourists” on the window, the purchase amount exceeds US$48, you must take a receipt, which will reimburse approximately 15% of the cost of the goods at customs at the airport.

The price level on the islands is slightly higher than on the mainland and is comparable to Norway, so traveling to the Faroe Islands cannot be called a cheap event.

Almost all industrial goods are imported and therefore are not cheap, but food (especially fish), wool and leather goods, and some alcoholic drinks are quite inexpensive.

Fresh vegetables are available all year round, as many islanders get them from their gardens, and most of them also go to store shelves. The assortment of fruits is somewhat lower, but also meets all international standards.

There are enough shops in Tórshavn, whose assortment differs little from the goods sold in some small town Europe.

Last changes: 10/23/2009

Where to stay

In the Faroe Islands there is no “star” classification of hotels; the following classification is used: “Deluxe”, “Superior”, “Standard”, which approximately corresponds to the European classification of 5, 4 and 3 star hotels. A special classification was introduced due to the specificity local hotels, located on small islands with limited infrastructure, where accommodation is offered in bungalows or cottages no higher than 2 floors. When choosing, you should carefully read the specific list of services provided by a particular hotel.

Most local hotels are small private guesthouses; there are no super-expensive rooms at all, and you can always find accommodation at quite reasonable prices($10-15 per night). Mid-level hotels ask for their services $20-70 per day, higher-class hotels - from $70 and above.

Sea and beaches

The Faroe Islands are best visited during the summer months, when precipitation is unlikely and the weather is warm and comfortable.

On the coast at the foot of Mount Tindur there are beaches consisting of black basalt sands.

Superb beaches from the dark volcanic sand are also located near the town of Skalavig.

Last changes: 09/01/2010

History of the Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands were known to Irish monks from about 500. In the period between 700 and 800, people from Scotland settled on the island, but left the islands at the beginning of the 9th century, when the Viking campaigns reached the Faroe Islands. Starting from the 9th century, the Faroe Islands became a link in the system of transport communications between Scandinavia and the Viking colonies, which were located in Iceland, Greenland and, for a short time, North America.

From the 11th century until 1380 the Faroe Islands were part of Norway, during which time the conversion took place local population into Christianity. When Norway entered into an alliance with Denmark, two powers began to govern the islands, and in 1814, after Norway left the union, Denmark became the sole owner of the islands.

The strategic position of the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic prompted British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to decide on April 11, 1940 to station the cruiser in the port of Tórshavn. The islands came under British military control in April 1940, during the Second World War, following the German invasion of Denmark. British occupation of the islands ended in September 1945.

In September 1946, as a result of a closed plebiscite and vote, the Faroe Islands parliament announced the islands' secession from Denmark. This decision was ratified by parliament, which voted 12 votes in favor and 11 votes against. The island of Sudurø, the third largest in the entire group, announced that it remains part of Denmark. The Danish government declared the results of the plebiscite invalid and temporarily suspended the Faroese parliament. Another public opinion poll revealed a slight majority in favor of not secession from Denmark, and a parliamentary delegation was invited to Copenhagen for further negotiations.

In 1948, an agreement was reached under which the Faroe Islands received limited sovereignty; the Danish government continued to be in charge of the islands' foreign policy. Two representatives of the islands serve permanently in the Danish Parliament.

Since 1984, the Faroe Islands have been declared by Løgting to be a food-free zone. nuclear weapons, but the islands are home to a Danish naval base and a NATO radar complex.

Last changes: 04/28/2013

It is completely unacceptable to bargain, and in any establishment, regardless of size and form of ownership.


Alcoholic drinks are sold only to persons over 18 years of age. Light beer can be bought in shops, restaurants and cafes. Strong beer, wine and other types of alcohol can only be purchased in specialized stores in large villages (indicated by the Government Monopoly sign) and in licensed restaurants, cafes, nightclubs, etc.

Fishing is only permitted in some waters and only on the basis of a fishing license, which can be purchased at all tourist offices. All gear and equipment, including fishing rods, floats, lines and baits, must be disinfected before arriving in the Faroe Islands (previously this parameter was carefully monitored at customs; currently the Faroese leave this rule to the conscience of the tourist). Instructions and rules for fishing in local lakes (the islanders call them in the Scottish manner - “loch”) are printed in all tourist booklets and prospectuses and must be strictly followed. The fishing season in streams and streams lasts from May 1 to August 31. Sea fishing is permitted all year round.

In the Faroe Islands, fortune-telling based on the footsteps of the Norns is common. Norn marks are spots that appear on the nails. They are interpreted according to their shape, color and the place where they appeared.

These islands are also famous for their hand-knitted shawls made from the wool of local sheep. They have an unusual butterfly shape and, unlike other types of shawls and scarves, due to their design they lie firmly on the shoulders, even if they are not tied.

Since the weather on the islands is very unpredictable, special requirements are placed on clothing. A waterproof and windproof jacket is a must here at any time of the year. It is also recommended to have a warm sweater and vest, a strong pair of boots with thick soles and good ankle support, light scarves, hats and gloves, especially when traveling to the sea (which is everywhere here). Light boots or sports shoes for moving around populated areas will also be useful.

Also, the mandatory kit should include sunglasses with glass filters, since the level of ultraviolet radiation here is quite high.

When moving around the islands, you should have with you a small backpack with a set of clothes and linen, a small supply drinking water or a hot drink (coffee, tea, cocoa), as well as high-calorie foods (chocolate, dried fruits, etc.).

Be sure to take a detailed map of the area with you and inform the local tourist office about the route and time it will take place. In case of frequent fogs here, you should not look for the road on your own - it is recommended to stop in the place where you find it and wait for help. Particular care must be taken when moving along the coastline and coastal cliffs.

Any journey longer than 3 km should only be undertaken with a local guide and with means of communication (cell phone or walkie-talkie). GPS receivers will also be quite useful - despite the small size of the islands, the terrain here is so complex that it is simply impossible to navigate yourself without knowing the local signs.

A detailed booklet describing the most interesting routes can be purchased at any of the local tourist offices for 10 CZK.

Last changes: 01/20/2013

How to get to the Faroe Islands

The easiest way to get from Moscow to the Faroe Islands is by SAS airline with a transfer in Copenhagen (Denmark). Aeroflot and SAS have daily flights from Moscow to Copenhagen (2 hours). SAS also flies six times a week from St. Petersburg (2 hours).

Island-based airline Atlantic Airways (part of the SAS airline system) flies from Iceland, Norway, Denmark and the UK to Vágar Airport in the Faroe Islands. Several other small companies serve these same areas.

Daily flights to the Faroe Islands are operated only from Danish Copenhagen - usually 2-3 times a day, from other countries flights are performed once every few days, and on winter period may stop altogether.

In addition to the plane, you can also get to the islands by Smyril Line ferry. It runs once a week from Tórshavn to Huntsholm in Denmark, the British Shetland Islands and Seyðisfjörður in Iceland. In summer it also visits Bergen, Norway.

Last changes: 04/28/2013