Faroe Islands (Faroe Islands) on the map of Denmark and Europe. Where are the Faroe Islands located? Faroe Islands: where is it
A month ago, we returned from perhaps one of the most impressive trips in the last couple of years. Gathering the will and money into a fist, it was decided not to fly to the Faroe Islands. At the word island, for many, the imagination draws the azure waters of the ocean, palm trees and white sand, but the Faroe Islands are not from this series. A pile of stones in the water, blown by the wind, from which the eyes are watering, silence, a tangible dark gray fog - all this is a unique Danish autonomy with a population of 50 thousand people, located on an archipelago of 18 islands in the dark waters of the Atlantic, an hour and a half from continental Europe.
1. Definitely describe these islands will not work. For the vast majority, they will seem too boring, the way of life is monotonous, the landscapes are the same ... But it is in such places that the feeling of the scale of time in relation to you is especially strong. While mankind was born, empires collapsed and created, these rocks drifted in the fog. If humanity leaves these places in one day, then the islands will clear themselves in a couple of years, the winds will blow away the buildings, the rains will wash away the roads, and the Faroe Islands will continue to stand in their original form like a thousand years ago.
4. In 2007, the National Geographic magazine called the Faroe Islands the best islands. And I agree with the editorial.
5. Traveling around the Faroe Islands is a rather spontaneous action, there are usually no sensible guides to such places, so a map is taken and villages and settlements are selected where intuition tells you to go. In fact, we traveled to almost all the villages and they all look the same. 10-20 houses, a church, a small pier (if there is access to the ocean), a local history museum and not a single person, all this does not resemble villages, but scenery, freshly painted houses, cleanliness and silence.
6. 17 of the 18 islands of the archipelago are inhabited, they are connected by long tunnels, bridges and ferry crossings, which go often and are cheap. Traffic on the islands is extremely small, far from the capital on the roads you are often alone. In areas where traffic is low, they make one lane for both directions of traffic with pockets for passing, because of the abundance of blind turns and climbs, driving on such roads is scary. Speed limit in settlements- 50km/h on the highway - 80km/h. There is nothing to do on the islands without a car.
8. The visiting card of the Faroe Islands is this waterfall on the island of Vagar.
9. The second largest city in the Faroe Islands is Klaksvik. Population 5000 people. View from above.
10. View from the ground.
11. Even such a big city as Klaksvik can plunge an unprepared tourist into despondency.
12. According to the local residents of the Faroe Islands, they are slowly aging, young people do not want to stay on the islands and engage in agricultural activities. Many move to Denmark first to study and then remain to work.
13. The Faroe Islands brew their own good beer.
15. Previously, life on the islands was quite complicated and harsh, there was no paint, and houses were often painted with tar, in our time, many pay tribute to traditions and paint houses black, and the heat is a little better preserved. Grass roofs are a separate attraction of the Faroe Islands. There is a joke on the islands for tourists that a couple of sheep are launched onto the roof to cut the grass.
16. The fate of the Faroes is quite complicated. The Faroe Islands were part of Norwayuntil the end of the XIV century, after which the islands of Norwayowned together with Denmark, which in 1814 became the sole owner of the islands. The inhabitants of the islands have Scandinavian roots, and the Faroese language is a descendant of the Old Norse language. During the Second World War, Churchill took the Faroe Islands under military control, which in fact meant occupation.
17. In 1946, the Parliament of the Islands held a referendum on independence among the population and announced the withdrawal of the Faroe Islands from Denmark.The decision was ratified by Parliament, which voted 12 in favor and 11 against. The Danish government declared the results of the referendum invalid and temporarily suspended the work of the Faroese parliament. The re-elections to the parliament revealed a slight preponderance of the parties that advocated non-secession from Denmark, and the parliamentary delegation was invited to Copenhagen for further negotiations. On April 1, 1948, an agreement was reached under which the Faroe Islands received limited sovereignty. Today, the Faroe Islands decide all issues except foreign policy and defense on their own.
20. Unique places unique people. The Faroese sounds at least proud, a descendant of the Vikings, strongly built, stern and handy. The population of the Faroe Islands is comparable in number to the population of an average Moscow microdistrict. At the same time, the Faroese are a full-fledged people with their own language, external distinctive features, national dances, songs and national cuisine. The islands have their own very beautiful banknotes, which depict watercolor landscapes of their native land. The Faroese are fishermen and pastoralists who live in harmony with nature.
21. The Faroese profess mostly Lutheranism. You arrive along a winding road to another town, there is no one on the streets, the clouds touch the ridges of the roofs, a dim light is on in the church - the entire population is on a sermon. A lot of unique old churches have been preserved on the islands, which are still functioning. There is always a cemetery near the church, strict graves, often just a stone with a name, a porcelain dove on the stone is a symbol of sorrow.
22. The weather here changes very often. The whole palette can be seen in one day. For September, we were very lucky with the weather, it was often sunny and there was almost no rain. It rains here about 280 days a year, in winter the average temperature is -2 degrees, in summer +15. Thanks to the Gulf Stream, the water around the islands has a temperature of about +10 all year round.
29. Torshavn is the capital. In the very center of the town there are authentic old houses, families live in them, clothes are dried on the street, you enter such a quarter as if you were entering a museum. Almost half of the population of the entire autonomy lives in the capital. Torshavn is familiar with the Russians firsthand, as it is traditional in recent decades, the place of entry, unloading and bunkering of the Russian fishing fleet.
30. The Faroes attract everyone's attention once a year, when the Faroese drive dolphins-grinds into the bays and slaughter them with improvised means, a bunch of activists flock, a resonance is created, the bays turn red. On this topic, I talked with a local resident, as he said, the slaughter of pilot whales is a long-standing fishery on the islands, and this is not done for fun or, as some sources say, "ritual entry of young people into maturity." All prey goes to food, not a single carcass disappears. If a village realizes that it has scored more than they can eat, then another commune is called to help and the booty is divided. Whale fat tastes disgusting.
32. The charm of a holiday in the Faroe Islands will definitely not be understood by everyone. The Faroe Islands are definitely a getaway from the people. The Faroe Islands make you think and immerse yourself.
33. Sheep islands end here, it is difficult to convey the atmosphere of these places with text and photographs, you need to come here full of strength and thirst for discovery, then the islands will open to you.
"Faroese sheep, as a rule, have a very weak herd instinct and usually do not gather in large groups on pasture..."
For those who missed travel notes in the Faroe Islands.
Not everyone will be able to quickly show where the Faroe Islands are, as many simply do not know in which part of the map to look for them. Meanwhile, these islands are visited by more and more tourists. Of course, tourists should not rely on beach holiday. Most people come here who want to completely abstract themselves from cities, noise, dust and be alone with amazing nature.
The islands have been repeatedly recognized as the most amazing, cleanest on the planet. So where are they Faroe islands on the world map? The nearest Icelandic coast is almost 500 km away! Almost all goods are imported from Iceland, and the country's economy is based solely on sheep and herring. That is, the Faroe Islands sell fish products and sheep wool to Europe. Despite this, the standard of living on the islands is one of the highest in the world. Until the middle of the nineteenth century, the country's economy was completely dependent on the sale of sheep's wool. Even now, this animal husbandry is so developed that the number of sheep exceeds the number of inhabitants of the islands almost twice. There are practically no trees on the Faroe Islands, but green meadows and an unusual landscape attract hundreds of photographers from all over the world.
How to get there?
There are no direct flights from Russia to the islands, but you can fly to Norway or Denmark with a transfer at one of their airports. You can book a flight to the islands themselves via the Internet.
There are regular ferries or other modes of transport that can be used between the islands. For a fee, you can hire a boat to travel around all the islands.
You will not be able to enter the islands with a Schengen visa. They even officially belong to Denmark, there are laws here. The islands deliberately refused to participate in the European Union, as they consider European taxes on fishing unacceptable.
Therefore, to travel, you need to apply for a visa in Visa Application Center Denmark with a special note in one of the cities of Russia.
There are such centers in many large cities. Most travelers to these lands use the services of a travel agency. All documents required for a visa are transferred to the agency, and its employees in the field of production transfer them to their clients.
What to do on the islands?
Tourists note several main points that should be done in the Faroe Islands.
- Try whale and lamb dishes. Sometimes food for cooking is marinated throughout the year.
- In any store you can buy first-class wool for knitting.
- Take a picture in front of a giant mailbox located on the island of Sandoy.
Climate
Not every tourist will like the climate of the islands. W and a year on the islands can be no more than 80 sunny days without rain. But even in sunny weather, the winds blow with terrible force. But people come here just when they want to retire, be alone with the picturesque breed and feel at the end of the earth.
In summer, the air temperature rarely rises above 15-17 degrees, and in winter it is very cold here because of the high humidity. True, the water in coastal areas does not freeze in winter due to the Gulf Stream washing the islands. The water temperature in winter near the islands is about 10 degrees. Only a small number of tourists visit this area in winter, so winter is a favorite season for divers. In addition to high temperature, water has perfect transparency.
The fauna of the Faroe Islands cannot boast of a particular diversity. In addition to marine animals, there were initially no animals on the territory. Most of the species were brought here by humans.
History of the islands
There are 18 main islands and only one of them is uninhabited. The first people settled the islands in the eighth century. For decades, the islands served as a transit point for the Vikings. For a long time, the Faroe Islands belonged to Norway and Denmark, but in the 19th century the territory became exclusively Danish. During World War II, the territory of the islands was occupied by British troops. It was a response to the actions of Germany, which captured Denmark. After the war, the islands were going to secede from Denmark, but received only partial sovereignty.
Tours and attractions of the islands
Despite the above main points that a tourist should do, the Faroe Islands can offer everyone a lot of entertainment. Main islands:
- The cleanliness of the air strikes
- the beauty of high mountains,
- green slopes with flocks of sheep.
Each city is unique in its own way. The compact size of small towns, especially when viewed from above, and bright roofs painted in different colors are striking. One of the peaks is a sheer cliff, which the best climbers of the planet have been unsuccessfully trying to conquer for many years. This is one of the most high cliffs in the world.
Streymoy Island is a favorite place for fishing enthusiasts. Here you can catch large salmon, eels, halibut. Visiting Nolsoy, you can admire the seal rookeries, where hundreds of animals are located. Fugloy Island (which means "Bird Island") was chosen by millions of birds. The height of the rocks exceeds 500-600 meters and many representatives of birds settle with pleasure on such cliffs.
But in addition to natural attractions in the Faroe Islands, you should definitely visit the ancient Munkastovan monastery, which is more than five hundred years old. In the seventeenth century, a terrible fire raged in the city. The only building in the city that remained after the fire was Munkastovan. The House of the Nordic Countries is also a must-see, where a concert hall and an art gallery operate. at night, familiarization events are held for guests of the islands.
Culture and customs
The area where the Faroe Islands are located and the national culture developed for almost a thousand years away from the peoples of Scandinavia. But in national rituals and celebrations, their influence is clearly traced. For example, one of the festivals in Oulavsök is reminiscent of a festival held in Norway. This day is celebrated on all the islands of the archipelago. At this time, competitions on the water between residents of different villages and cities, equestrian competitions are held on the islands.
Despite the remoteness and the mainland, the islands even have their own football team, which has been a member of FIFA for over 25 years. The stadium for training and international matches, which is located on the ocean, looks especially unusual.
Kitchen
Speaking about the culture of the Faroe Islands, it is impossible not to mention the cuisine. The main two ingredients that the inhabitants of the islands use are whale meat and lamb. Local residents prefer to eat all dishes separately, without mixing them. But national dishes are most often prepared at home by local residents. Most of the restaurants offer international dishes, with hints of local and Danish cuisine.
Most of the inhabitants eat a dish in the morning, like sandwiches, consisting of pieces of meat, bread and butter, fish, and cheese. But unlike sandwiches, they always use a fork and knife to eat such food. Whale meat and lamb are dried in a special way in the cold sea wind. Especially worth trying is a dish called ruyskjot, a dish of dried meat that takes several months to cook. And “skerpikyot” is meat that has been cured for more than a year and is ready to eat without any additional processing. Fish are often dried in this way.
There are almost no fish shops in the Faroe Islands, and locals, if necessary, put fish on the table, catch it on their own. Potatoes, rice or other products serve as a side dish. Among the drinks in the Faroe Islands, coffee and tea predominate. Herbs that grow on the mountain slopes of the archipelago are often added to traditional black tea. Often, eating is accompanied by drinking beer and other strong alcoholic beverages.
Policy
The local parliament consists of 33 deputies who are elected for four years. Although the Queen of Denmark is formally considered the head of state, on the islands all processes are controlled by the High Commissioner.
The Parliament of the islands is endowed with sufficient powers to refuse to join the European Union. The main reason is disagreement with Europe on approaches to the problem of territorial waters. The government of the islands decides mainly on issues of external and internal regulation, while Denmark supplies the archipelago with everything else (defense, justice, funding issues). The parliament building itself looks like a building with lawn grass growing on the roof. On the territory of the islands there are many such buildings that periodically need mowing the lawn on the roof.
More than five hundred experts have recognized the islands as the best in the world in the field of tourism. Perfectly preserved nature, clean air and good nature of the local population have become the reason that many tourists from all over the world visit the islands throughout the year.
The Faroe Islands have an amazing landscape, and the location and climate, which contribute to the excellent play of light, attract photographers from all over the world. According to the famous National Geographic Traveler magazine, the Faroe Islands are the most unique islands in the world.
Faroe Islands Denmark
The Faroe Islands are an archipelago of 18 islands, 17 of which are inhabited. If literally the name of the islands is translated from the Faroese, then it sounds like “Sheep Islands”. The islands are located between, Scotland and the island of Iceland, in the North Atlantic. The Faroe Islands, although they belong to the Kingdom of Denmark, are an autonomous region and make independent decisions in almost all matters.
Faroe islands. Village in the west of the island of Villa
Get to the Faroe Islands
And getting to the islands is not difficult, but you can’t do without a transfer. From Moscow or St. Petersburg, you first need to fly to, about 2 hours of flight. Further to the airport, Vagar is the only airport in the Faroe Islands, and it is also international. The best way to get to the Faroe Islands is with the SAS airline, which operates flights to the islands from Copenhagen 2 to 3 times a day. In addition, you can fly to Vagar Airport from Norway, Iceland, Great Britain. You can also take a ferry to Torshavn from Huntsholm Denmark, from the Shetland Islands, Seydisfjordur Iceland, and in the summer from Bergen Norway.
Faroe islands. The uninhabited island of Luitla Duimun
A bit of history
The first settlers of the Faroe Islands were from Scotland, they lived here from the 8th - 9th centuries and left them because of the Viking raids. The Vikings made the Faroe Islands a transport link that connected Iceland, Scandinavia and Greenland, and for a short time also North America. Until the XIV century, the Faroe Islands were part of Norway, and since 1814 they began to belong to Denmark. Because of this, the Scandinavians are the descendants of the locals, and the Faroese language appeared thanks to the Old Norse language. In 1946, the Faroe Islands announced their secession from Denmark, but a vote and an opinion poll, which was divided, led to a stop to this decision. In 1948, a new agreement was adopted, in which the Faroe Islands received limited sovereignty. Since 1984, the Faroe Islands have been declared a free zone from nuclear weapons.
Faroe islands. Torshavn
Visa to the Faroe Islands
If you want to visit the Faroe Islands, then you need a visa, which is issued by the consular section of the Danish Embassy. Despite their northern location, the islands have a unique climate - warm winters, the coldest month of January with temperatures from 0 to +4 degrees, and cold wet summers, the warmest month of July with temperatures from +11 to +17 degrees. There is quite a lot of precipitation, here they go about 280 days a year and almost all in the form of rain, most of it falls on the period from September to January, fogs are also frequent. And thanks to the tropical Gulf Stream, the temperature in the ocean is always around +10 degrees, which provides ideal conditions for the life of a variety of fish.
Faroe islands. Northwest coast of Esturoy
The Faroe Islands consist of 18 large islands, as well as numerous small islets and rocks. The largest island of the Faroe Islands is Streymoy. On this island is the capital of the Faroe Islands, the city of Torshavn and the village of Vestmanna. The second largest island in the archipelago is Esturoy. Here are located big cities Fuglafjordur, Runavik and Nes. The island is connected to the Streymoy Islands by a road bridge. Another large island of Voar, it is located international Airport Vagar. The most populous island is Boroy, there are eight settlements, one of which is considered the second largest in the Faroe Islands - Klaksvik. Luitla-Duimun - desert island from eighteen islands.
Faroe islands. Sorvagsvatn lake on Vagar islands
There are many attractions in the Faroe Islands. Of course, the main attraction of the Faroe Islands can be safely called the landscape. Cliffs, rocks, green fields, ocean, sun, fogs and clouds touching the ground make amazing landscapes that will not leave indifferent even the most fastidious travelers. What else to see besides nature in the Faroe Islands?
Faroe islands. Kalsoy Island
Kalsoy Island
It is worth visiting the island of Kalsoy - this is the most rocky island in the Faroe Islands. The entire western coast is made up of rocky cliffs, and the settlements are connected by numerous tunnels. There are many underground galleries and caves on the island, which is why this island is often called the "Flute". In the north of the island, near the Katlur lighthouse, there is a natural sea arch and picturesque cliffs. If you want to watch the numerous colonies of birds, then you should go to Fugloy Island, which is called the "island of birds". In Eistfelli, the cliffs reach 450 meters in height, and in Klubbin - 620 meters in height.
Faroe islands. Church in the village of Sandur on the island of Sandoy
Sandoy Island
Sand dunes await you on Sandoy Island, the least rocky island of all the islands. It is worth going to the village of Skupon, where two beautiful lakes lie above it on the terraces - Noroara-Khalsavatn and Heimara-Khalsavatn. In the village of Sandur there is a church that has a long and interesting story starting from the 11th century. To the north of the village of Skarvanes is Tretlkonufingur - "Troll Woman's Finger" - a beautiful sea rock.
Faroe islands. The road to the village of Skarvanes on the island of Sandoy
Basic moments
The Faroe region is an internal autonomy of the Kingdom of Denmark, independently managing almost all issues, excluding the topic of defense and foreign policy. The archipelago consists of 18 islands, of which 17 are inhabited. Of the 48 thousand local residents, about 20 thousand live in the capital or in the suburbs.
There are two official languages on the islands - Faroese and Danish. Moreover, the vast majority of the inhabitants are native speakers of the Faroese language, which is a mixture of Western Scandinavian dialects and is widely used in almost all spheres of life.
Climate and weather
The Faroe Islands are located in the heart of the warm Gulf Stream, which is the reason for the constant off-season: there are 280 rainy days per year. Despite the fact that the seasons seem to have no boundaries on the islands, the climate is quite mild. In winter, the average monthly temperature ranges from 0 °С to + 4 °С, and in summer - from +11 °С to +17 °С. The rainy season falls in September - January, and then fog covers the archipelago, preventing the sun's rays from reaching the surface.
Thanks to the warm sea current, the water on the islands has almost the same temperature - +10 ° C - all year round, which creates all the conditions for the development of fishing.
Nature
Holidays in the Faroe Islands - a holiday in the bosom of nature in its original form. Due to frequent strong winds, the islands are mostly treeless, sometimes you can find mountain ash, maple, and conifers. A significant part of the territory of the islands is occupied by peat bogs, meadows, as well as mountain ranges.
IN free time Fauna lovers can diversify their holidays on the islands by watching colonies of sea birds, seals, whales, dolphins.
There are a huge number of sheep in the archipelago. The last ones were once brought to the local hills by the Celts. The local endless pastures appealed to the sheep, and today there are two sheep for every local resident.
Attractions
The Faroe Islands are most comfortable to visit during the summer months, when rainfall is unlikely and the weather is warm.
The excursion program in the Faroe Islands is diverse: visiting the capital Torshavn, small villages, bird colonies, a boat trip in coastal waters.
The capital of the islands, the city of Torshavn, lies in a picturesque area. The main part of the city juts out from the fjord, offering amazing views of the wild mountains and steep cliffs. It's very quiet here, only noisy central square Yes, berths, where continuous work is in full swing. Streets away from the center are usually small and cramped.
The main attraction of Tórshavn is the Munkastovan Monastery, built in the 15th century and surrounded by a stone wall. Munkastovan is one of the few buildings that escaped the great fire of 1673. Another building that also survived the fire is the royal warehouse of Leigubyun.
For inquisitive travelers, it will be interesting to visit the Historical Museum, which has in its collection ship models, household items of local residents, fishing tackle and agricultural tools from Viking times to the present day, as well as objects of religious value.
Walking through the Vidarlund Park, you can go to the Museum of Art and enjoy magnificent examples of sculpture and painting.
There is also an "island of birds" in the Faroe Islands - Fyugloy, which received its name for its majestic cliffs inhabited by millions of colonies of sea birds.
To the north of the settlement of Skarvanes is the beautiful sea rock Tretlekonufingur ("finger of the troll woman").
At the end of July (28-29th), the Faroese celebrate the main holiday - St. Olaf's Day. These days, usually reserved locals arrange a real revelry of emotions. The festival is named after Olaf II, who, as king of Norway, introduced Christianity to Scandinavia and began the fight against paganism.
Traditionally, celebrations include rowing competitions, horse races, dance and religious processions, and art exhibitions.
Kitchen
The inhabitants of the Faroes owe their national menu to the harsh climate of the islands. Traditionally, local dishes consist of meat and fish. Faroese delicacies - sheep's head, whale fat and skerpikjet (dried lamb) - should definitely be tried by gourmets. Well, lovers of traditional cuisine in local restaurants will be happy to serve roast lamb. Tourists have the opportunity to taste deliciously stuffed puffins with sweet dough (these are such birds), which are served with sweet berries and potatoes. The ubiquitous rhubarb will also be new to many.
Alcoholic drinks are officially allowed on the islands from the age of 18. Light beer is sold everywhere, but strong dark, low-alcohol drinks and wine are sold only in state monopoly stores in large cities and licensed restaurants.
Lunch at a local restaurant will cost a tourist an average of $ 30, in establishments with a higher level - $ 45-50, excluding alcohol. Eating at a local cafe is much cheaper.
Hotels
Upon arrival on the islands, you can stay in the capital's three-star hotels "Torshavn" or "Streym" or in the more comfortable "Hafnia" and "Feroyar". All hotels offer tourists rooms with private facilities, transfer to / from the airport, free Wi-Fi territory. The cost of living is quite high - from $ 120, but there are seasonal discounts.
More budget option will be guest houses and hostels. The most popular of them are Skansin and Bládýpi, but they need to be booked several months in advance. There are also mini-hotels operating on the principle of bed and breakfast. Prices here start at $80 and depend on the season.
For travelers who prefer outdoor recreation, there are campsites located in specially designated areas. The Faroe Islands have a very strict attitude to order, so campers are required to maintain cleanliness and thorough cleaning upon departure.
Entertainment and recreation
Many varieties of fish are found in local waters, so fishing is very popular among locals and vacationers. By the way, local law allows you to export from the country any fish longer than 30 cm, which has long been prohibited in most European countries.
The Faroe Islands are interesting for wreck divers: sunken ships can be found in the local coastal waters. Near the island of Nolsoy it is interesting to observe the underwater life of seals.
Nightlife lovers can spend time in the capital's clubs Rex or Eclipse. In the latter, visitors are allowed no younger than 18, but no older than 25 years.
shopping
Of the Faroese souvenirs, the most interesting are the numerous woolen products, ceramic and wooden crafts.
Due to the rather harsh climate, woolen clothes are held in high esteem among the islanders. Here you can always buy a trendy sweater, gloves or hat at attractive prices.
Most shops are open from 9:00-10:00 to 17:30-18:00. On Friday, many stay open until 19:00. On Saturdays, all outlets work on a reduced schedule - from 9:00 to 12:00, 14:00 or 16:00, Sunday is usually a day off.
Transport
The Faroe Islands have a developed bus route network, ferries run between the islands. In the capital, local red buses run with four routes, which can take you to almost all areas of the city. The waiting interval - half an hour in the morning and afternoon - in the evening increases to one hour. The blue Bygdaleiðir buses are the link between the islands. Maps of routes and timetables for passenger transport can be purchased at Steinatún kiosks.
The best way to get to the islands is by plane. The only international airport Vagar is located on the island of the same name near the village of Sorvagur. Tourists can rent a car to travel around the islands. In order to arrange a rental, you must have an international driver's license, a credit card and be over 20 years old. Rental prices start at $60 per day.
Connection
The mobile communication standard on the islands is GSM. There is also an analog version, but it has almost been superseded by the digital format.
Local mobile operators are Foroya Tele and Kall P/F. Roaming in their networks is available for subscribers of the main mobile operators in Russia.
Tourists can purchase a local mobile SIM card at Teleshops, hotels, post offices and gas stations.
In the Faroe Islands, pay phones also function in sufficient numbers (they work on credit cards and coins). When calling abroad, you need to dial 00, the national code and the number of the called subscriber.
The Internet can be used in the internet cafe. Most hotels provide a wireless connection on their territory.
Safety
Traveling around the islands, you can not worry about the safety of your property - the crime rate here is extremely low. In order not to overshadow your vacation, it is enough not to leave personal belongings unattended, not to take large sums money, be polite local residents and do not abuse night walks. If necessary, the police are always ready to help.
If during the trip you need medical assistance, you can be sure that it will be provided on the very high level. The central hospital is located in the capital and has an excellent medical base.
Business
Registering a business in the Faroe Islands takes only a few days. The most common forms are a joint-stock company, suitable for large companies, and a limited liability company. In order to start your business here, you need to have a legal address on the islands. Another condition is a resident of the Kingdom of Denmark as one of the participants in the case.
The minimum authorized capital for a joint-stock company is about $85,000, for a limited liability company - about $20,000. For registration, you will also need a draft memorandum of association, articles of association and an application.
Foreign companies can enter the Faroese market by opening branches. A resident of the islands or Denmark must also be appointed as the head of the branch.
From the point of view of taxation, business legislation, accounting standards, the Faroe Islands provide optimal conditions for the development of companies. Legal regulation of entrepreneurial activity is similar to Danish and adheres to EU standards.
The main business in the archipelago is concentrated in the service sector and the fishing industry.
On local investment websites, you can find offers for entrepreneurs who are ready to invest in new ways of developing the fishing industry. At the same time, the Faroese are very interested in a high-tech business that can offer environmentally friendly solutions for production.
Real estate
Acquisition of real estate abroad is considered to be one of the most promising and long-term investments. The Faroe Islands may become great place for both temporary and permanent residence. They become especially attractive for people who love comfort and solitude, striving for order. Offers on the real estate market are different - from a small studio apartment to a solid large house. The prices are quite attractive. A house with four bedrooms, two bathrooms and a large surrounding area will cost about $130,000.
True, those who decide on such a deal should keep in mind that local banks do not provide mortgage housing in the absence of a residence permit. In addition, local legislation requires the appropriate permission of the Ministry of Justice for the acquisition of property by a foreigner.
Traveling to the islands is not cheap. The price level here is quite high and is equal to the average European one. However, when leaving the country, tourists can make a VAT refund if they have a receipt from a store that works according to the system. Tax Free. Appropriate inscriptions are present at the entrance to the trading facility. A one-time purchase must be over $48 to qualify for a tax refund.
Tips are not accepted on the islands, the remuneration for service personnel is usually already included in the bill.
Fishing is only allowed in certain waters on the basis of a license sold at tourist offices. If a tourist intends to take fishing tackle from home, they must be sanitized before arriving on the islands. Instructions for fishermen can be found in tourist brochures. In streams and streams, the fishing season is open from May 1 to August 31, in the sea - all year round.
When traveling, one should not forget about the local changeable climate. On vacation, warm clothes and several pairs of comfortable shoes for moving through mountainous areas and trips to the sea will not hurt.
Vaccination before travel is not required. The emergency number is 112.
Visa Information
To obtain a visa, you must contact the consular department of the Embassy of Denmark in Moscow at the address: Prechistensky pereulok, 9.
Those who wish to obtain a visa must provide a visa application form, 2 photographs, a passport (valid for at least three months after the expiration of the requested visa) with a copy, a national passport with a copy, confirmation of hotel reservations, a certificate from the place of work (study), an insurance policy covering everything risks (the amount of insurance coverage should not be less than 30,000 €), a bank statement or travel checks (at the rate of 50 € for each day of stay).
They got it closer to the middle of the XI century, when the islands came under the jurisdiction of the Norwegian kingdom, under the influence of which culture and culture were formed. history of the Faroe Islands. In particular, the same Faroese language, even in its modern form, is a direct descendant of the Old Norwegian language and belongs to one of its dialects, which most of the Faroese speak today.
However, this position of the islands, as a kind of enclave of either Denmark or Norway, was finally suspended as a result of the decision of the Danish government to grant the islands the legal status of a self-governing territory with full socio-political independence in all matters except foreign policy and defense issues. And it was from that moment, from April 1, 1948, capital of the Faroe Islands was founded in one of the largest cities on the island of Streymoy, the city of Thorshavn.
The geography of the Faroe Islands is so arranged that only a few of the eighteen that make up the archipelago have sufficient area and conditions for agriculture and industrial production. Which, in turn, was determined by the fact that the bulk of the forty-eight thousandth population of this island state lives on the largest islands of the archipelago. At the same time, according to recent sociological studies, population of the Faroe Islands behind last years took shape in a fairly homogeneous national structure. So, in particular, according to the 2011 census, more than 90% of the population are the indigenous inhabitants of these islands - the Faroese, leaving less than 10% to the share of people from other Scandinavian countries.
After State of the Faroe Islands, received quite a certain independence, administrative authorities and representatives of national authorities began to form on the islands. Based on this, the central executive power in the Faroe Islands belongs to the Government, whose composition is approved by the Parliament. Every five years he is re-elected in general elections, in which the five main political parties of this island nation have been competing for several years. At the same time, local self-government of the islands is limited to the presence of six main regions (sysls) and 34 smaller territorial communes. At the same time, the supremacy of executive power in these structures belongs to the civil elders, some of whom are elected by the citizens themselves, and some are appointed from the capital of the Faroe Islands.
Having received quite definite political and economic independence on April 1, 1948, story The Faroe Islands went on a new round - the politically active part of the population of the Faroe Islands began to form the political structure of this small island state. With this in mind politics of the Feroe Islands for many years it has been determined by the activities of the seven main political parties, which have their representatives both in the Parliament of the state and in its government. The main such political forces today include the People's Party (Folkaflokkurin), the Republican Party (Cheveldi) and the Social Democratic Party (Yavnaarflokkurin), the parties with the largest number of representatives in the Faroese Parliament.
Language of the Faroe Islands
Taking into account the fact that a significant part of the population of the Faroe Islands is made up of indigenous Faroese, whose history is rooted in the peoples of Northern Norway, this kind of state of affairs has also imposed on the existing language environment. So, in particular, the main one is Faroese, as a rather ancient offshoot of one of the dialects of the Old Norwegian language. But under the influence of time and assimilation among the Faroese of immigrants from other countries of Scandinavia, today the same English and Danish languages are increasingly found in everyday life and in official speech. This culture Faroe Islands are no longer very different from the linguistic structure of their neighbors.