Why go to the Faroe Islands? Open left menu Faroe Islands How to fly to Faroe Islands

Faroe islands translated from Faroese - "Sheep Islands". In English they are called Faroe Islands. They represent a separate island group and are not known to many tourists. Not everyone will immediately give an answer to the question of where the Faroe Islands are located on the world map. But nevertheless, they are of interest to travelers, as they are a corner of untouched nature and peace.

In contact with

Parliament and Government of the Faroe Islands

About the Faroe Islands, Wikipedia reports that they are located in the northern part of the Atlantic. between Iceland and Shetland pertaining to Scotland. An unequivocal answer to the question of which country the Faroe Islands belong to cannot be given. On the one hand, they are part of, on the other hand, since 1948, they have independently resolved almost all issues of state policy, except for foreign and defense.

The Faroe Islands have their own legislature - Parliament (Løgting) with 6 political parties represented. It has 33 members. And also the executive body - Landstuyri and the only court. There are two representatives from the Faroes in the Danish Parliament.

The Faroe Islands, although related to Europe, are not part of the European Union. They are not an independent entity in terms of international law and sign treaties jointly with Denmark. Representatives of individual parties are in favor of the complete independence of the Faroe Islands from Denmark.

Capital, population

The main port of the Faroe Islands, the city of Tórshavn, is the capital of the country. It is located on the island of Stremoy (area 373.5 square kilometers), in its southeastern part. About 20 thousand people live in the capital.

The entire population of the country has about 50 thousand people. The main language is Faroese, the vast majority of the inhabitants are Faroese (about 90%). They are followed by the Danes, Icelanders and the British. Surprisingly, Russians also live here. In 2011 there were 55 of them.

Culture, traditions Faroe Islands

The main religion is Lutheranism, but there are also Christians. There are many architecturally interesting churches from the Middle Ages.

At the heart of the original culture of the islands - literature, music, dance - are closely intertwined local and Danish traditions. In the Faroe Islands, folklore and jazz festivals are often held.

Oulawsöka

The main holiday is Oulavsöka, which takes place on July 28-29. It is named after Olaf, a saint who introduced Christianity to Norway.

The festival program includes:

Grind slaughter

An integral part of the public culture of the Faroe Islands is the slaughter of pilot whales - black dolphins. This event mainly takes place in the summer. not of a commercial nature and organized by communities. Anyone can take part in it, but mostly men do it, and women only watch.

This craft has historical roots. It is due to the fact that, due to climatic conditions, vegetables and grains do not grow well on the islands, therefore, for the survival of the population, for centuries, meat and fat are needed, including grind. About 950 heads are harvested annually, which gives 500 tons of meat and fat and accounts for 30% of the total amount of meat products produced on the islands. These products are not exported, not sold in stores, they are used in families.

The fishery has been criticized as well as drastic action by animal rights and marine conservation groups. They consider it cruel and not caused by vital necessity. At the same time, local whalers speak of its economic importance.

Butterfly shawls

Sheep breeding is developed in the Faroe Islands. They are also famous for the fact that knitting shawls from the wool of local sheep by hand is common here. These products are different from other types of shawls and very scarves unusual shape shaped like a butterfly. This design is of practical importance. Thanks to her, the shawl remains on the shoulders during the movement, even if it is not tied.

Climate Faroe Islands

Wikipedia says that the climate in the Faroe Islands is maritime temperate. Winters are warm and summers are cool and humid. The warmest month is July with a temperature of 0–4 °C, and the coldest month is January with a temperature of 11–17 °C. Up to 2 thousand mm of precipitation falls per year. It mostly rains for about 9 months a year from September to January, fogs are frequent on the islands.

The archipelago is washed by the Gulf Stream - a warm sea current, due to which coastal waters have a temperature of + 10 ° C throughout the year. This factor significantly softens the climate and contributes to the creation of optimal conditions for the life of marine life, including fish and plankton.

Geography of the Faroe Islands

The area of ​​all Faroe Islands is 1395.74 square meters. kilometers.

They are at a distance:

• to Copenhagen - 1117 km;
• up to - 675 km;
• to Iceland - 450 km.

In total, the Faroe Islands archipelago consists of 18 large islands, a large number of small and separate rocks. the largest from the group of northern islands is Boroy, which is quite densely populated (about 5 thousand people), and has an area of ​​​​95 square meters. kilometers. It is the second largest city in the Faroe Islands - Klaksvik.

On the island of Esturoy is the highest point of the Faroes - the peak of Slattaratindur, whose height is 882 meters above sea level. Fjords are located along all the islands, so their coastline is heavily indented. Basically, the land surface is rocky, consisting of basalt. Here high slopes alternate with plateaus. They are separated by deep gorges.

Fauna and flora of the Faroe Islands

Due to the strong winds that blow constantly, there are few forests here. But strong conifers, maple and ash still grow, and lichens and moss, heather are also very common.

The fauna of the Faroe Islands is represented by large colonies of arctic birds - guillemots, harp seal rookeries, and it is also rich in fish - cod, herring, halibut.

A breed of sheep called the Faroese lives here, hence the name of the island. Sheep of this breed appeared in the 9th century and became an integral part of the local tradition. Their image is on the coat of arms of the Faroes. Basically, the breed is grown for meat, but also, as mentioned above, wool is used for the production of shawls.

Facts from the history of the Faroe Islands

• Until the 14th century, the Faroe Islands belonged to Norway., then Norway and Denmark owned them jointly. And since 1814, the islands became Danish. Their inhabitants come from the Scandinavian peoples, and the language - from the old Norwegian dialects.
• During World War II, the Faroe Islands were taken under British military control. It happened in 1940 after the Nazi invasion of Denmark. After that, the island's elected body, Logting, gained the authority to legislate, and the flag of the Faroe Islands received official recognition. In September 1945, the occupation regime was lifted.
• In 1946, a vote was held among the island population, as a result of which the parliament announced its withdrawal from the Kingdom of Denmark. However, the Danish government did not recognize this decision and temporarily stopped the work of the Faroe Parliament. As a result of the parliamentary struggle in April 1948, an agreement was signed under which the islands were given sovereignty, with restrictions on foreign policy. From the local parliament, two delegates were elected to the Danish Parliament.
• In 1984 the Faroe Islands were declared a nuclear-weapon-free zone. Today, the NATO radar complex and the Danish naval base are located here.

Transport in the Faroe Islands

There are sea, road transport and aviation with one airport - Vagar.

Aviation

The national carrier, Atlantic Airways, provides regular flights to:

• Norway - Stavanger and Oslo;
• Denmark - Billun, Aalborg, Copenhagen;
• Iceland -;
• Great Britain - London, Aberdeen, Shetland.

Between Tórshavn and the outlying islands with a small number of inhabitants, a helicopter service is carried out on an ongoing basis.

Maritime communication

Due to the island location, the main mode of transport is sea. Ferries run between the islands. The national sea carrier is Smyril Line. The marine terminal is located in Torshavn.

Motor transport

In total, there are about 500 kilometers of roads on the islands. Most of them are mountain serpentine. Large tunnels have been built here since the second half of the 20th century., which connect individual settlements with each other. The longest road tunnel is the Noroya Tunnel.

How to get to the Faroe Islands

It is best to get to the Faroe Islands by plane to the capital Torshavn with a transfer:

• via Denmark from Copenhagen or
• via Norway from Bergen or Stavanger.

In the summer, from Bergen, Norway, you can get to Tórshavn by ferry.

Note! In order to get to the Faroe Islands, Russian citizens will need, which is issued by the Danish Embassy in the consular department. It must be marked "valid for the Faroe Islands".

Attractions of the capital Faroe Islands

The city of Torshavn was founded in the 10th century and named after the god of thunder and lightning - Thor. Tórshavn is a picturesque, prosperous city. It is unlike other capitals. Its dignity is not majestic buildings, but untouched surrounding nature of amazing beauty and a sense of solitude and peace.

Here it is Main Cathedral , belonging, like most churches on the islands, to the Evangelical Lutheran Church. It was built in 1788, then rebuilt. It became the cathedral and the residence of the bishop in 1990. It preserved such unique items as a baptismal font dating back to the end of the 16th century, and a crucifix from the beginning of the 18th century.

And also in the capital there is a Lutheran western church. It has a height of 40.5 meters and is the tallest building in the entire archipelago. The year of its erection is 1975. The base of the church building is made of basalt stone, on which there is a dome in the form of a glass and copper pyramid. In front of the entrance to the church there is a monument to Sigmundur Brestisson, who began the Christianization of the population of the islands, for which he was killed in 1005.

You should also pay attention to the ancient monastery Mooncastovan, built in the 15th century and surrounded by stone walls. It has been completely preserved despite a fire in the 17th century.

The attraction of the capital is also the main island Historical Museum. It presents samples of applied art, religious objects, rural life, household utensils that have been preserved since the time of the Vikings. And also - accessories of the marine industry: fishing tackle, navigational tools and models of ships.

The main cultural center of Tórshavn is House Nordic countries . Its roof is covered with peat. It houses: a concert hall, a conference hall, an art gallery, a library. Here, in the summer nights, events are held, the so-called Faroese evenings for tourists.

Faroe Islands attractions

The most mountainous of all the islands Faroe is Kalsa. Its western coast is full of steep cliffs. There are four small settlements on the island, which communicate with each other through a system of tunnels. There are many caves and underground galleries, for which Kalsa is also called Flut, that is, “flute”. In the north of the island is the Katlur lighthouse, near which you can see picturesque cliffs and a naturally formed sea arch.

To the north of the village of Skarvanes is a marine original rock Trötlkonufingur, which means "Finger of the Troll Woman". It really resembles a graceful long finger.

The least mountainous of the Faroe Islands is sandoy with sand dunes. There are two lakes with clear water. A colony of guillemots settled in the west. There is a church on the island. The view of Sandoy is depicted on the Faroe Islands 1000 crown note.

On the island Fugloy, or Bird Island, there are cliffs with a height of 450 to 620 meters. They descend from plateaus located on picturesque mountain ranges, and completely covered with a carpet of arctic grasses and mosses. These cliffs are home to numerous colonies of seabirds, numbering many millions.

Not everyone will be able to quickly show exactly where the Faroe Islands are on the map. At the same time, more and more tourists go there. They are mainly attracted by the opportunity to take a break from noisy resorts, vibrant cities and city dust.

Located in the Norwegian Sea between Iceland and the Scottish Isles, the archipelago consists of 18 islands, of which 17 are inhabited. The population is 48 thousand. It is noteworthy that almost half of these people live in the capital or in its suburbs. The Faroe region is considered bilingual. The official languages ​​are Danish and Faroese, which combines various Western Scandinavian dialects.

To date, there are no direct flights from Russia to the islands. Therefore, tourists have to make a change in Denmark or Norway. The air ticket can be pre-booked using the Internet. From one island to another can be reached by several means of transport, including by ferry. For some tourists, it is most convenient to travel around the islands on a boat hired for an additional fee.

Although the Faroe Islands belong to Denmark, however, you cannot enter their territory with a Schengen visa. Refusal to join the European Union was deliberate and it is associated with taxes on fishing. Therefore, in order to get to the archipelago, you need to apply for a visa, in which there will be a special note. Special visa centers where you can follow this is in many large cities. However, most travelers prefer the services of travel agencies. All Required documents are transferred to the agency, and in the future, employees transfer ready-made visas to clients.

Climatic and weather conditions

The islands are located in the central part of the warm sea current, known as the Gulf Stream. Therefore, in this place there is a constant off-season. Throughout the year, the number of sunny days does not exceed 80, and the rest of the time it rains. In addition, even in sunny weather, strong winds blow. The most comfortable for visiting the archipelago will be the summer months, when precipitation is rare.

In the Faroe Islands, the climate is quite mild. Average temperatures for winter are approximately 0˚C to +4˚C. Summer temperature is 11-17˚C. From September to January, the rainy season lasts on the islands. Further, the archipelago plunges into fog, which does not let the rays of the sun through.

Another feature: the water near the islands is perfectly clear, and its temperature does not drop below +10˚C even in winter. This creates ideal conditions for fishing and diving in the winter.

Nature

For those who prefer to relax in the bosom of pristine nature, the Faroe Islands is an ideal option. Most of the territory is occupied by peat bogs, meadows and mountain ranges. Numerous lakes and fjords, gorges, rocks and waterfalls will not leave anyone indifferent.

There are few trees on the islands, only occasionally you can see conifers, maples or mountain ash trees. Fauna connoisseurs free time in the archipelago they can devote to watching dolphins, seabirds, whales and seals. Also, an incredibly large number of sheep graze on the hills of these islands.

Attractions of the archipelago

Of course, many tourists consider the main attractions in the Faroe Islands beautiful mountains and slopes with flocks of sheep, as well as compact towns and multi-colored roofs on houses.

Lovers of natural attractions will also appreciate the features of different islands. For example, Streymoy is a paradise for fishing lovers. Here you can catch halibuts, eels and even representatives of the salmon family. Nolsoy attracts tourists with seal rookeries, and Fugloy attracts tourists with millions of birds. And the northern settlement of Skarvanes is famous for the beautiful sea rock called Tretlekonufingur, which means “finger of a troll woman”.

There is a large selection of excursion programs in the archipelago. For example, it can be a visit to the capital and small villages or boat trips.

The capital of the islands, Tórshavn, is located in an incredibly picturesque area. Much of the village juts out from the fjord, offering breathtaking views of the mountains and steep cliffs. Tórshavn is a very quiet city. Noisy only for central square and on the piers.

The main attraction of the capital is the Munkastovan monastery built in the 15th century. It is noteworthy that the monastery, surrounded by a stone wall, is one of the few buildings that survived the great fire that raged in the 17th century.

Many will be interested in visiting the Historical Museum. Among its exhibits are ship models, fishing tackle and agricultural implements, ranging from Viking times to our days. Also here you can see items that were used by local residents in everyday life. There are exhibits that are valuable from a religious point of view.

You should definitely visit the House of Northern Countries. There is an art gallery and a concert hall, and in the summer evenings, familiarization events are held for guests of the archipelago.

After walking through the Vidarlund Park, it is worth going to the Museum of Art to see amazing examples of painting and sculpture.

If the trip to the archipelago is in July, it is worth planning your vacation so that you are sure to be on the islands on the 28th-29th. During this period, locals nationally celebrate St. Olaf's Day. According to tradition, the celebrations include solemn religious and dance processions, art exhibitions, as well as rowing and equestrian competitions.

Gastronomic nuances

National cuisine has a close relationship with the climate in the archipelago. The two main ingredients that are used in the preparation of various dishes are lamb and fish. Gourmets who come to the Faroe Islands should definitely try local delicacies such as sheep's head and whale meat. No less interesting is ruyskjet (meat cured for several months) and skerpicket - meat that has been cured for more than a year and is consumed without any processing. Often the same cooking method is used for dried fish.

Those tourists who prefer traditional cuisine should order roast lamb at the restaurant. You can also try puffins (this is the name of small birds) stuffed with sweet dough and served with potatoes and sweet berries.

It may surprise many that rhubarb is added to food everywhere. Another interesting feature is that there are practically no fish shops on the islands. If the islanders want to cook fish, they catch it themselves, and after cooking it is served on the table with a side dish in the form of rice or potatoes.

It is worth noting that the most popular drinks on the islands are coffee and tea. In tea, locals often add herbs that grow on mountain slopes. Alcoholic drinks are officially allowed from the age of 18. However, if light beer can be purchased everywhere, then low-alcohol drinks, strong dark beer and wine can be bought only in state-owned stores and restaurants that have a special license.

Lunch at a regular restaurant will cost about $30. More than high level- it will already be $ 45-50. The most budgetary snack option can be found in local cafes.

Where to stay?

After arriving in the capital, you can check into a three-star hotel. For example, it could be Stream or Torshavn. For those who like more comfortable conditions, Khafnia and Feroyar are suitable. It should be noted that in all hotels tourists are offered rooms with private facilities. There is also a shuttle service from the airport and back, free access to Wi-Fi. The cost of living in hotels starts from $120. Although you can get a seasonal discount.

A more economical accommodation option is a hostel or guest house. The most popular are "Bládýpi" and "Skansin", but it is worth booking a room in them a few months before arrival. There are also mini-hotels on the islands where you can spend the night and have breakfast. Prices for accommodation depend on the time of the year and start from $80.

For tourists who prefer to relax in the bosom of nature, campsites are equipped. locals order is highly valued, therefore, campers are required to maintain cleanliness and thorough cleaning before departure.

Main types of entertainment

 There are many varieties of fish in coastal waters. Therefore, not only indigenous people, but also tourists are fond of fishing. By the way, according to the laws, any fish can be taken out of this country if its length exceeds 30 cm.

 The Faroe Islands are extremely interesting for wreck divers. After all, here you can find sunken ships. And near Nolsoy Island, divers like to watch how seals live underwater.

 For those who cannot imagine a good rest without nightclubs, it is worth visiting the capital's "Rex" and "Eclipse". However, it should be borne in mind that only young people aged 18-25 are allowed into the second club.

What to buy?

The most popular souvenirs are wool products, wood crafts and ceramics. Due to the peculiarities of the climate, the islanders cannot imagine their life without woolen clothes and accessories. Therefore, here you can always buy a stylish sweater, hat or gloves at an attractive price.

It should be borne in mind that from Monday to Thursday most of the shops are open from 9:00 to 18:00. On Friday, the working day is often extended by one more hour. But on Saturday, everything closes earlier, and Sunday is a day off.

1.​ The most optimal transport to get to the archipelago is by plane. But there is only one international airport here - Vagar, located near the village of Sorvagur.

2. You can rent a car to get around the islands. It will cost at least $60 per day. To rent a car, you need to be over 20 years old, have credit card and an international driving licence.

3. Tourists who prefer public transport, can purchase maps with routes and timetables from Steinatún kiosks.

4. Traveling to the Faroe Islands is quite expensive. But when leaving the country, if there is a receipt from stores operating on the system Tax Free, VAT can be refunded. But only if the purchase amount in the check exceeds $48.

5. It is not customary to leave a tip in this archipelago. Staff remuneration is most often immediately included in the bill.

6. You can fish with a license, which is sold at tourist offices. If a tourist wants to take his fishing tackle, he must sanitize it in advance.

7. The climate in the Faroe Islands is very changeable, so it is necessary to take warm clothes and several pairs of comfortable shoes with you on the road.

Visa Information

To obtain a visa in Moscow, you can contact the Embassy of Denmark. You must have with you:

•  2 photographs;
•  a completed application form;
• ​ foreign passport (its expiration date must end at least 3 months after the expiration of the visa) and its copy;
•  national passport and its copy;
• ​ insurance policy (the amount of coverage cannot be less than 30 thousand €);
•  an extract from a bank account;
•  Confirmation that the hotel has been booked;
•  A certificate from the place of work or study.

The Faroe Islands are steep cliffs, fogs, waterfalls, wooden houses with grass on the roof, whales, langoustines, sheep and the harsh Atlantic. The geographical location of the Faroe Islands can most easily be described by the English expression "in the middle of nowhere".

An archipelago of eighteen small and many small islands is hidden in the northern part Atlantic Ocean. The easiest way to get here is from Iceland - ferries run from the land of ice to the Faroe Islands.

In the photo: the coast of Eggjarnar in the village of Vagur on the island of Suvuroy

At the beginning of the ninth century, immigrants from Scotland settled here, then the Vikings sailed here, and until the nineteenth century, the territory of the islands was divided between Norway and Denmark. Now the Faroe Islands are part of the Kingdom of Denmark, but since 1948 they have received autonomy and most issues can be resolved independently.

The name of the islands is translated as “sheep”, because with a population of 50,000 inhabitants, there are 70,000 sheep of a special Faroese breed. Few get to the Faroe Islands, but those who can will not be disappointed, because there is a harsh northern nature, traditional wooden architecture and a peculiar cuisine that includes raw seafood and fermented lamb.

HARBOR OF THORNE

Everything on the islands is very compact and rustic in a good way. The capital of the Faroe Islands, Toshavn, is located on the island of Streymoy. It is built up with low houses, there are only 3 traffic lights, and the Prime Minister's personal number can be found in the phone book.

Torshavn is a port city named after the god Thor, the main local attractions are the XV century monastery of Munkastovan, the Historical Museum, Cultural Center House of the northern peoples and Old city with 14th century houses.

I want to talk about local architecture separately. In the old days, houses in the Faroe Islands were built of tarred dark wood, and the roofs were covered with turf and grass. Today, the government monitors the preservation of a single architectural style and new houses are built here exactly the same. Most of the historic churches on the islands date back to the nineteenth century, all made of wood and with original carvings.

Pictured: Norðragøta dark wood church with a turf roof

And even in the cities, at every step you will meet the honorary inhabitants of these lands - sheep. It is logical that lamb is the main dish of the local cuisine, and sheep wool products are the main Faroese souvenirs. You can buy just a traditional sweater, hat or mittens, but it is better to go to the fashion brand Guðrun&Guðrun. It was founded by two Faroese young ladies, and even the main character of the famous Danish TV series “Murder” walked in the sweater of their brand.

NATURE OBSERVATION

And yet, for the most part, travelers go to the Faroe Islands to admire the harsh beauty of the local nature. It is wild, northern, harsh, similar species can be observed in Iceland, because, like the Faroe Islands, they are treeless, like the country of ice. But there are rocky cliffs, fjords and waterfalls - the most famous Bosdalafossur is located on the island of Voar, which resembles a dog's head in its shape.

In the photo: Bosdalafossur waterfall on the island of Voar

It does not matter which islands you visit, everywhere you can see the impressive landscapes of the Atlantic, rocks and sheep. The largest islands of the archipelago are Streymoy, Esturoy, Voar, Suduroy, Sanda and Borda. We recommend hiking as the main entertainment - 23 spectacular routes have been developed here.

In the photo: lighthouse at Cape Akraberg, Suvuroy island

But no matter where you go, after 5 kilometers you will still find yourself at the Atlantic Ocean - this is the maximum distance to it from anywhere on any island.

Pictured: Puffins arrive in the Faroe Islands to nest

Add to this private fogs, lighthouses, concentrated sea air and bird trills - about 110 native species of birds live on the islands, plus the territory is a migratory place for birds, and the symbol of the Faroe Islands is the sandpiper.

MYSTERIES OF THE ATLANTIC OCEAN

Be sure to go fishing. Fishing is the main industry for the Faroese, and 90% of local exports are seafood. Here they catch langoustines, mussels, sea ​​urchins, cod, herring, halibut, flounder, catfish, squid, monkfish, whales and sharks. By the way, despite the low water temperature, diving in the Faroe Islands is not only possible, but every year it becomes more and more popular. And this is not surprising, because in the underwater depths near the islands you can observe starfish and urchins, sea cucumbers, hermit crab and huge mussels.

The Embassy of Denmark in Russia issues a Schengen visa to citizens upon special request with a special note: "Valid for entry to the Faroe Islands." "Where is it?" - we are perplexed. It turns out that the small one also has colonies. True, not tropical, and not far from the metropolis. Well, let's say, not quite a colony: the islands have their own parliament, which decides virtually all state issues, except for foreign policy and defense. About where the Faroe Islands are located, what this archipelago is, who inhabits it, and more - read in this article. We will try to tell you about the natural attractions of the region and how you can get there. You will also learn Interesting Facts about the history and nature of the archipelago.

Where are the Faroe Islands

The locals call their archipelago Förjar. In translation, it means "sheep islands." Raising these small ruminants, along with fishing, has long been the backbone of the local economy. Now the number of sheep has about eighty thousand individuals. Eighteen islands form an archipelago in the northern part of the Atlantic Ocean called the Faroe Islands. Where is it in more detail? Between Scotland and Iceland. Reykjavik is about 450 kilometers from the Faroe Islands, 650 kilometers from the coast of Norway, and as many as 1117 kilometers from the capital of Denmark - Copenhagen. In this northern region, the population is small and nationally homogeneous. Even in the capital, the city of Tórshavn (Streymoy Island), only nineteen thousand people live. The second largest city, Klaksvik, has five thousand inhabitants. And there is also an island where only one person lives permanently. This is Koltour. On others - 6-11 inhabitants. The Faroese make up 91.0% of the total population. Another 6 percent identify themselves as Danes. There are quite a few immigrants in this region, for obvious reasons.

Climate characteristics

Where the Faroe Islands are located, the weather does not please the inhabitants with a cloudless sky and a warm sun. The climate here, due to the high latitudes, is quite severe. Strong winds blow all year round, which is why the landscapes on the archipelago are treeless. There are only artificial plantations of coniferous trees, mountain ash and maple. In winter, it is frankly cold and damp. However, the Gulf Stream does not allow the water off the coast to freeze and even maintains its temperature within +10 degrees. In summer, the air warms up to only fifteen, and it rains 280 days a year. Most of the precipitation falls from early autumn to January. Fogs here are not uncommon, but the norm.

Nature and relief

All eighteen islands have coastlines indented by fjords. Since the archipelago is a part of the Atlantic Rift Range protruding above the water, their relief is very mountainous. most high point- the peak of Slattaratindur, which is located on the island of Esturoy, has been unsuccessfully trying to conquer climbers for decades, although its height is only 882 meters above sea level. The Faroese rocks are composed of basalt rocks back in the Cenozoic era. The most mountainous island - Kalsoy - all consists of sheer cliffs. Therefore, tunnels were dug to move between the four small settlements. For this, as well as for the huge number of caves and sea grottoes, he was nicknamed "flute" (Flute). And the least mountainous is Sandoy. Where the Faroe Islands are, you don't expect to see sand dunes, but they do exist. On Sandoy you can also admire the beautiful lakes and enjoy excellent fishing.

Story

Mankind found out exactly where the Faroe Islands are located, approximately in 700 years. The first settlers in this sparsely vegetated archipelago were immigrants from Scotland. But already at the beginning of the 9th century they were supplanted by the warlike Vikings. For a long time, the Faroe Islands were a transit point between Scandinavia and Iceland. Norway ruled the archipelago until the end of the 14th century. After that, she shared her dominion over the islands with Denmark. In 1814, the latter became the sole mistress of the archipelago. When the Nazi troops began their occupation of Denmark, Great Britain, in the person of the Prime Minister, dared to retaliate. In April 1940, the British cruiser embarked on a raid in the port of Torshavn. The islands were never captured by the Germans. In 1945 the British left the archipelago. In 1946, a plebiscite was held on the withdrawal of the Faroe Islands from Denmark. Parliamentarians were invited for talks in Copenhagen. As a result, an agreement was reached on a very wide autonomy within the Kingdom.

How to get to the Faroe Islands

The archipelago has only one international airport. It is located on the island of Voar. Its area is 177 km², and the population is three thousand people. with the capital and largest island archipelago - Streymoy - Voar connects a five-kilometer tunnel dug under the seabed. Transport links between settlements fine tuned. Old roads along mountain serpentines are now increasingly replaced by underground tunnels. Ferry crossings even the inhabitants of Mykines and Stour Duimun, whose population is eleven and six respectively, do not allow them to feel completely isolated from the world. But tourists come here just to feel at the end of the earth, where the Faroe Islands seem to go into the boundless expanse of the ocean. You can get to the archipelago from (Denmark), as well as Bergen and In the summer, a ferry runs. It sails from Bergen and arrives in the capital Tórshavn.

culture

Existence at the "end of the earth" led to the emergence of very distinctive traditions. Until the 18th century it was unwritten, but the old oral epic has survived. Also on the islands you can admire a large number of medieval churches. Residents are very careful about their original culture and regularly hold music festivals. Tourists should definitely buy products made from the excellent wool of local sheep, as well as try dried cod and whale soup, specialties that the Faroe Islands are famous for. Football occupies a special place in the life of the islanders. The team was formed in 1930 and immediately lost to the Latvians. But the defeat did not disappoint the inhabitants of the Faroe Islands. In 1988, FIFA accepted the team into its roster, and in the 1990s it was recognized by UEFA.