The Faeroe Islands
Faeroe (or Faroe)Islands,(Faeroese:Foroyar; Danish:Faeroerne), a group of Danish islands in the North Atlantic Ocean. They lie midway between Scotland and Iceland, about 400 miles (640 km) west of Norway. There are 18 inhabited islands and a number of rocky islets. The total area is 540 square miles (1,399 km2). The largest islands are Streymoy and Eysturoy, covering 144 and 111 square miles (373 and 287 km2) respectively.
The Faeroes are high and rugged, attaining elevations of nearly 3,000 feet (900 m), with cliffs and fjords along the coasts. Vegetation is sparse. The humid marine climate is moderated by the warm North Atlantic Drift. Most of the Faeroese live by fishing and raising sheep. The many seabirds that roost on the islands provide eggs and meat.
The islanders have their own flag and currency. Their language, Faeroese, is closely related to Icelandic. Tórshavn, on Streymoy, is the capital. The islands were colonized in the early ninth century by Norsemen and came under Danish rule in 1380. In 1948 the islanders were given control of local affairs by Denmark.
The population of the islands in 2005 was 48,379.