Føroyar Færøerne Faroe Islands
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: Tú alfagra land mítt You, my most beauteous land
Capital (and largest city)		Tórshavn 62°00′N, 06°47′W
Official languages		Faroese, Danish
Demonym		Faroese
Government
-	Monarch	Margrethe II
-	Prime Minister	Jóannes Eidesgaard
Autonomous province of the Kingdom of Denmark
-	Home rule	April 1, 1948
Area
-	Total	1,399 km² (180th) 540 sq mi
-	Water (%)	0. The flag of the Faroe Islands is an offset cross following as with other Nordic flags the tradition set by Dannebrog. A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that evokes and eulogizes the history traditions and struggles of its people recognized either by a nation's Mítt alfagra land, usually called "Tú alfagra land mítt" is the National anthem of the Faroe Islands. The vast majority of the population are ethnic Faroese, of Norse descent Tórshavn (ˈtʰɔuʂhaun is the Capital of the Faroe Islands. An official language is a Language that is given a special legal status in a particular Country, State, or other territory Faroese ( føroyskt ˈføːɹɪst or) often also spelled Faeroese (cf Danish ( d̥ænsɡ̊ is one of the North Germanic languages (also called Scandinavian languages a sub-group of the Germanic branch of the A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a People or the inhabitants of a place The Faroese or Faroe Islanders ( Føroyingar) are the people of the Faroe Islands in Northern Europe of Norse and Celtic For the government of parliamentary systems see Executive (government. This is a list of Danish Monarchs, that is the Kings and Queens regnant of Denmark. Early life Princess Margrethe was born, to Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Ingrid. This is a list of the people who have been prime minister of the Faroe Islands. Jóannes Dan Eidesgaard (born April 19 1951) is the Finance Minister of the Faroe Islands. The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. To help compare Orders of magnitude of different geographical regions we list here areas between 1000 km2 and 10000 km2 This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by total area. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Water is a common Chemical substance that is essential for the survival of all known forms of Life. In Mathematics, a percentage is a way of expressing a number as a Fraction of 100 ( per cent meaning "per hundred" 5
Population
-	August 2007 estimate	48 500 (214th)
-	2004 census	48,470
-	Density	34/km² (176th) 88/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		2006 estimate
-	Total	$2. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology List of countries by population in 2005|List of countries by population in 1907This is a list of countries ordered according to Population. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume List of countries and dependencies by Population density in inhabitants/km² The purchasing power parity ( PPP) theory uses the long-term equilibrium Exchange rate of two currencies to equalize their Purchasing power. 2 billion (not ranked)
-	Per capita	$45,250 (2006 estimate) (not ranked)
HDI (2006)		0. There are three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head with Per meaning 'through' or 'by' This article includes three lists of Countries of the world sorted by their Gross domestic product (GDP at Purchasing power parity (PPP Per capita The Human Development Index ( HDI) is an index combining normalized measures of Life expectancy, Literacy, Educational attainment, and GDP 9431 (high) (15th)
Currency		Faroese króna² (DKK)
Time zone		GMT
-	Summer (DST)	EST (UTC+1)
Internet TLD		.fo
Calling code		+298
1	Information for Denmark including the Faroe Islands and Greenland. This is a list of countries by Human Development Index as included in the United Nations Development Program 's Human Development Report 2007 A currency is a unit of exchange, facilitating the transfer of Goods and/or services It is one form of Money, where money is The króna (plural krónur) is the Currency of the Faroe Islands. ISO 4217 is the International standard describing three-letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established Greenwich Mean Time ( GMT) is a term originally referring to mean solar time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London Daylight saving time ( DST European Summer Time is the arrangement in Europe by which clocks are advanced by one hour in Spring to make the most of seasonal daylight A country This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E
2	The currency, printed with Faroese motifs, is issued at par with the Danish kroner, incorporates the same security features and uses the same sizes and standards as Danish coins and banknotes. The krone ( sign: kr; code: DKK) is the Currency of Denmark, including the autonomous provinces of Greenland Faroese krónur (singular króna) use the Danish ISO 4217 code "DKK". ISO 4217 is the International standard describing three-letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established

Faroe Islands NASA satellite image.

The Faroe Islands or Faeroe Islands or simply Faroe(s) or Faeroes (Faroese: Føroyar, meaning "Sheep Islands", Danish: Færøerne, Old Norse: Færeyjar) are a group of islands in Northern Europe, between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, roughly equidistant between Iceland, Scotland, and Norway. Faroese ( føroyskt ˈføːɹɪst or) often also spelled Faeroese (cf Danish ( d̥ænsɡ̊ is one of the North Germanic languages (also called Scandinavian languages a sub-group of the Germanic branch of the Old Norse is the North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age An island (ˈaɪlənd or isle (/ˈaɪl/ is any piece of land that is completely surrounded by water in two dimensions above high tide and isolated from other significant Northern Europe is a term for the northern part of Europe. The United Nations defines Northern Europe as (Finland Currents In the Norwegian Sea and Greenland Sea surface water descends two to three kilometres down to the bottom of the ocean forming cold oxygen-rich groundwater Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland ( ( Ísland or Lýðveldið Ísland ( Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional They have been an autonomous province of the Kingdom of Denmark since 1948, making it a member of the Rigsfællesskab. Autonomy ( Greek: Auto- Nomos - nomos meaning "law" one who gives oneself his/her own Law) is the right to Self-government A province is a territorial unit almost always an Administrative division. The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Rigsfællesskabet (Community of the Realm officially rendered in English as the United Kingdom of Denmark by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) is a Danish The Faroese have, over the years, taken control of most matters except defence (though they have a native coast guard), foreign affairs and the legal system. A coast guard is a national organization responsible for various services at sea These three areas are the responsibility of Denmark.

The Faroes have close traditional ties to Iceland, Shetland, Orkney, the Outer Hebrides and Greenland. Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland ( ( Ísland or Lýðveldið Ísland ( Shetland (formerly spelled Zetland, from etland; Old Norse non Hjaltland; Sealtainn is an Archipelago off the northeast coast of Orkney (also known as the Orkney Islands or incorrectly the Orkneys) is an Archipelago in northern Scotland, situated 10 miles (16 km north The Outer Hebrides, ( officially known for local government purposes by the Gaelic name Na h-Eileanan Siar) comprise an island Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat meaning "Land of the Greenlanders" Grønland is a self-governing Danish Province located between the The archipelago was politically detached from Norway in 1814. An archipelago (ɑrkəˈpɛləgoʊ is a chain or cluster of Islands The word archipelago literally means "chief Sea " from Italian Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional Year 1814 ( MDCCCXIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Faroes are represented in the Nordic Council as a part of the Danish delegation. The Nordic Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers is an intergovernmental forum for co-operation between the Nordic countries.

History

Main article: History of the Faroe Islands

The early history of the Faroe Islands is not well known. Pre-Norse history The early details of Faroese history are rather nebulous History is the study of the past particularly the written record Those who study history as a Profession are called Historians Etymology Irish hermits (monks) settled in the sixth century, introducing sheep and oats and the early Irish language to the islands. The Irish people ( Irish: Muintir na hÉireann, na hÉireannaigh, na Gaeil) are a Western European Ethnic group who originate A hermit (from the Greek ἔρημος erēmos, signifying " Desert " "uninhabited" hence "desert-dweller" adjective "eremitic" MONK is a Monte Carlo software package for simulating nuclear processes particularly for the purpose of determining the neutron multiplication factor or k-effective The 6th century is the period from 501 to 600 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. Oats redirects here It may mean either the common cereal oat discussed here or any cultivated or wild species of the Genus Avena. Irish (ga ''Gaeilge'' is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish. Saint Brendan, who lived circa 484–578, is said to have visited the Faroe Islands on two or three occasions (512-530 AD), naming two of the islands Sheep Island and Paradise Island of Birds. Saint Brendan of Clonfert or Bréanainn of Clonfert (c 484 &ndash c Circa (often abbreviated c, ca, ca or cca and sometimes Italicized to show it is Latin) means "about" Events By Place Europe December 28 — Alaric II succeeds Euric as king of the Visigoths. Events By Place Byzantine Empire Tiberius II Constantine succeeds Justin II as Byzantine Emperor. Events By Place Byzantine Empire Emperor Anastasius I ends a period of moderate eclectic policy and starts strongly favoring his own For the California area code see Area code 530 Events By Place Byzantine Empire Battle of Daras:

Later (~650 AD) the Vikings replaced the early Irish and their settlers, bringing the Old Norse language to the islands, which locally evolved into the modern Faroese language spoken today. Events By Place Asia The first Chinese Paper money is issued yet these banknotes will not become government-issued A Viking is one of the Norse ( Scandinavian Explorers Warriors Merchants, and pirates who raided and colonized wide areas The Irish people ( Irish: Muintir na hÉireann, na hÉireannaigh, na Gaeil) are a Western European Ethnic group who originate Old Norse is the North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age A language is a dynamic set of visual auditory or tactile Symbols of Communication and the elements used to manipulate them Faroese ( føroyskt ˈføːɹɪst or) often also spelled Faeroese (cf The settlers are not thought to have come directly from Norway, but rather they were Norwegian settlers from Shetland and Orkney, and Norse-Gaels from the Irish Sea and Western Isles of Scotland. The Norse-Gaels were a people who dominated much of the Irish Sea region and western Scotland for a large part of the Middle Ages, who were of Scandinavian The Irish Sea ( Irish: Muir Éireann or Muir Meann; Scottish Gaelic: Muir Eireann Welsh: Môr Iwerddon, The Outer Hebrides, ( officially known for local government purposes by the Gaelic name Na h-Eileanan Siar) comprise an island Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain.

According to Færeyinga Saga, emigrants who left Norway to escape the tyranny of Harald I of Norway settled in the islands about the end of the ninth century. The Færeyinga Saga, the Norse saga of Faroemen, is the story of how the Faroes were converted to Christianity and became a part of the In modern usage a tyrant is a single ruler holding absolute power over a State or within an Organization. Harald Fairhair or Harald Finehair ( Old Norse: Haraldr hárfagri, Norwegian: Harald Hårfagre) (c The 9th century is the period from 801 to 900 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. Early in the eleventh century, Sigmund, whose family had flourished in the southern islands but had been almost exterminated by invaders from the northern islands, escaped to Norway and was sent back to take possession of the islands for Olaf Tryggvason, king of Norway. Sigmundur Brestisson (961 &ndash 1005 introduced Christianity to the Faroe Islands in 999 Family denotes a group of People affiliated by consanguinity affinity or co-residence Olaf Tryggvason ( Old Norse: Óláfr Tryggvason, Norwegian: Olav Tryggvason) (960s &ndash September 9 ? 1000 was King of He introduced Christianity and, though he was subsequently murdered, Norwegian supremacy was upheld. Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings Norwegian control of the islands continued until 1380, when Norway entered the Kalmar Union with Denmark, which gradually evolved into Danish control of the islands. Kalmar is a city in Småland in the south-east of Sweden, situated by the Baltic Sea. The Kalmar Union ( Danish, Norwegian and Swedish: Kalmarunionen) is a historiographical term meaning a series of Personal The reformation reached the Faroes in 1538. When the union between Denmark and Norway was dissolved as a result of the Treaty of Kiel in 1814, Denmark retained possession of the Faroe Islands. The Treaty of Kiel was a settlement between Sweden and Denmark-Norway on January 14, 1814, whereby the Danish king a loser in the

The trade monopoly in the Faroe Islands was abolished in 1856 and the country has since then developed towards a modern fishing nation with its own fleet. Trade is the willing exchange of goods, services, or both Trade is also called Commerce. In Economics, a monopoly (from Greek monos, alone or single + polein, to sell exists when a specific individual or enterprise has sufficient Year 1856 ( MDCCCLVI) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year For the computer security term see Phishing. Fishing is the activity of catching Fish. The national awakening since 1888 was first based on a struggle for the Faroese language, and thus more culturally oriented, but after 1906 was more and more politically oriented with the foundation of the political parties of the Faroe Islands. Year 1888 ( MDCCCLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Faroese ( føroyskt ˈføːɹɪst or) often also spelled Faeroese (cf Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning "to cultivate" generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic Year 1906 ( MCMVI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Politics Politics is the process by which groups of people make decisions A political party is a political organization subscribing to a certain Ideology or formed around very special issues with the aim to participate in power usually

On April 12, 1940, the Faroes were occupied by British troops. Events 467 - Anthemius is elevated to Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The British occupation of the Faroe Islands in World War II, also known as "Operation Valentine" was implemented immediately following the German invasion of Denmark The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The move followed the invasion of Denmark by Nazi Germany and had the objective of strengthening British control of the North Atlantic (see Second Battle of the Atlantic). Operation Weserübung was the codename for Nazi Germany 's assault on Denmark and Norway during World War II and the opening operation Nazi Germany and the Third Reich are the common English names for Germany under the regime of Adolf Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers The Battle of the Atlantic was the longest continuous Military campaign of World War II, (though some say it was a series of naval Military campaigns In 1942-43 the British Royal Engineers built the only airport in the Faroes, Vágar Airport. Year 1942 ( MCMXLII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (the link will display the full 1942 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1943 ( MCMXLIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (the link will display full 1943 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Militia (R MON RE(M is the most senior Regiment in the British Territorial Army, having given continuous loyal service An airport is a location where Aircraft such as airplanes, Helicopters and blimps take off and land Vágar Airport (Vága Floghavn Vágar Lufthavn is the only airport in the Faroe Islands, a self-governing territory of Denmark. Control of the islands reverted to Denmark following the war, but in 1948 a home-rule regime was implemented granting a high degree of local autonomy. Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Devolution is the statutory granting of powers from the central government of a State to government at subnational level The word regime (occasionally spelled " régime " particularly in older texts refers to a set of conditions most often of a Political nature The Faroes declined to join Denmark in entering the European Community (now European Union) in 1973. The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. The islands experienced considerable economic difficulties following the collapse of the fishing industry in the early 1990s, but have since made efforts to diversify the economy. Support for independence has grown and is the objective of the government. Independence is the Self-government of a Nation, Country, or State by its residents and population or some portion thereof generally exercising

Politics

Main article: Politics of the Faroe Islands

Tinganes in Tórshavn, seat of the government. Politics of the Faroe Islands takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic dependency, whereby the Prime Minister of the Tinganes is the historic location of the Faroese Løgting (parliament and is a part of Torshavn. Tórshavn (ˈtʰɔuʂhaun is the Capital of the Faroe Islands.

The government of the Faroes holds the executive power in local government affairs. In Political science and Constitutional law, the executive is the branch of government responsible for the day-to-day management of the State. The head of the government is called the Løgmaður or prime minister in English. This is a list of the people who have been prime minister of the Faroe Islands. This article is about the government position For other uses see Prime Minister (disambiguation. Any other member of the cabinet is called a landsstýrismaður. A minister or a secretary is a Politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional Government. Today, elections are held in the municipalities, on a national level for the Løgting, and inside the Kingdom of Denmark for the Folketing. An election is a Decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold formal office A municipality is an administrative entity composed of a clearly defined territory and its population and commonly denotes a City, Town, or Village, or The Løgting, or determined in Faroese Løgtingið (full official name Føroya løgting "Løgting of the Faroes" is the Parliament The Folketing, or Folketinget, is the national Parliament of Denmark. For the Løgting elections there are seven electoral districts, each one comprising a sýsla, while Streymoy is divided into a northern and southern part (Tórshavn region). Districts are a type of Administrative division, in some countries managed by a Local government. Tórshavn (ˈtʰɔuʂhaun is the Capital of the Faroe Islands.

The Faroes and Denmark

The Treaty of Kiel in 1814 terminated the Danish-Norwegian union. The Treaty of Kiel was a settlement between Sweden and Denmark-Norway on January 14, 1814, whereby the Danish king a loser in the Denmark–Norway ( Danish: Danmark-Norge Norwegian: Danmark-Norge or Danmark-Noreg is the historiographical name for a former political entity union Norway came under the rule of the King of Sweden, but the Faroe Islands, Iceland, and Greenland remained as possessions of Denmark. The monarch is the Head of state of the Kingdom of Sweden. Sweden being a Constitutional monarchy with a Representative democracy based on a Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat meaning "Land of the Greenlanders" Grønland is a self-governing Danish Province located between the Subsequently, the Løgting was abolished 1816, and the Faroe Islands were to be governed as a regular Danish amt, with the Amtmand as its head of government. Year 1816 ( MDCCCXVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Denmark was until December 31, 2006 divided into 15 counties ( Danish: amter) and 270 municipalities ( Prefect (from the Latin praefectus, perfect participle of praeficere: "make in front" i In 1851 the Løgting was resurrected, but served mainly as an advisory power until 1948. 1851 ( MDCCCLI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year

At the end of the Second World War a portion of the population favoured independence from Denmark, and on September 14, 1946 a public election was held on the question of secession. Events 81 - Domitian becomes Emperor of the Roman Empire upon the death of his brother Titus. Year 1946 ( MCMXLVI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Secession (derived from the Latin term secessio is the act of withdrawing from an organization union or especially a political entity It is not considered a referendum, as the parliament was not bound to follow the decision of the vote. A referendum (plural referendums or referenda) ballot question, or plebiscite (from Latin plebiscita This was the first time that the Faroese people were asked if they favoured independence or if they wanted to continue as a part of the Danish kingdom. The outcome of the vote produced a small majority in favour of secession, but the coalition in parliament could not reach a resolution on how this election should be interpreted and implemented, and because of these irresolvable differences the coalition fell apart. A majority, also known as a simple majority in the US, is a Subset of a group that is more than half of the entire group A coalition is an alliance among individuals during which they cooperate in joint action, each in their own Self-interest. A parliamentary election was held just a few months later, in which the political parties that favoured staying in the Danish kingdom increased their share of the vote and formed a coalition. Based on this increased share of the votes, they chose to reject secession. Instead, a compromise was made and the Folketing passed a home-rule law, which came into effect in 1948. In Arguments compromise is a concept of finding Agreement through Communication, through a mutual Acceptance of terms—often involving variations The Folketing, or Folketinget, is the national Parliament of Denmark. The Faroe Islands' status as a Danish amt was brought to an end with the home-rule law; the Faroe Islands were given a high degree of self-governance, supported by a substantial annual subsidy from Denmark. In Economics, a subsidy (also known as a subvention is a form of financial assistance paid to a business or economic sector

The islanders are about evenly split between those favouring independence and those who prefer to continue as a part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Within both camps there is, however, a wide range of opinions. Of those who favour independence, some are in favour of an immediate unilateral declaration. Unilateralism ("one+side -ism " is any doctrine or agenda that supports one-sided action Others see it as something to be attained gradually and with the full consent of the Danish government and the Danish nation. The term Dane may refer to People with a Danish ancestral or ethnic identity whether living in Denmark, emigrants or the descendants of emigrants In the unionist camp there are also many who foresee and welcome a gradual increase in autonomy even as strong ties to Denmark are maintained.

The Faroes and the European Union

As explicitly asserted by both Rome treaties, the Faroe Islands are not part of the European Union. The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in Moreover, a protocol to the treaty of accession of Denmark to the European Communities stipulates that Danish nationals residing in the Faroe Islands are not to be considered as Danish nationals within the meaning of the treaties. As of 2007 the European Union has 27 member states, most of which participate in all EU policy areas and programs or have signed up to do so Hence, Danish people living in the Faroes are not citizens of the European Union (other EU nationals living there remain EU citizens). Citizenship of the European Union was introduced by the Maastricht Treaty signed in 1992 The Faroes are not covered by the Schengen free movement agreement, but there are no border checks when travelling between the Faroes and any Schengen country since the Faroes are part of the Nordic Passport Union since 1966 and since 2001 there are no border checks between the Nordic and the rest of the Schengen area as part of the Schengen agreement. The term Schengen Agreement is used for two agreements concluded among European states in 1985 and 1990 which deal with the abolition of systematic Border controls The Nordic Passport Union, created in 1954, and implemented on May 1, 1958, allows Citizens of the Nordic countries ( Denmark The term Schengen Agreement is used for two agreements concluded among European states in 1985 and 1990 which deal with the abolition of systematic Border controls The term Schengen Agreement is used for two agreements concluded among European states in 1985 and 1990 which deal with the abolition of systematic Border controls

Regions and municipalities

Map of Faroe

Main articles: Regions of the Faroe Islands and Municipalities of the Faroe Islands

Administratively, the islands are divided into 34 municipalities (kommunur) within which 120 or so cities and villages lie. The Faroe Islands are divided into six regions seven constituencies and 34 municipalities The Faroe Islands are administratively divided in 34 municipalities ( kommunur) with about 120 cities and villages The Faroe Islands are administratively divided in 34 municipalities ( kommunur) with about 120 cities and villages This is a list of towns in the Faroe Islands:

Traditionally, there are also the six sýslur ("regions"; Norðoyar, Eysturoy, Streymoy, Vágar, Sandoy and Suðuroy). The Faroe Islands are divided into six regions seven constituencies and 34 municipalities The six islands in the northeast of the Faroe Islands are together referred to as Norðoyar, i Eysturoy meanes East island (pronounced) and is the second-largest of the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic, both in size and population Streymoy is the largest and most populated island of the Faroe Islands. Vagar is also the old name of Walls Shetland Islands Vágar is one of the 18 islands in the archipelago of the Faroe Islands and the most Sandoy is a small island that is part of the Faroe Islands. The largest population center on the island is the village of Sandur. Tvøroyri The biggest mountain Gluggarnir 610 mMountains 55 --> Suðuroy (literally South Island is the southernmost of the Faroe Islands Although today sýsla technically means "police district", the term is still commonly used to indicate a geographical region. A sýsla is a Police district in Iceland and the Faroe Islands, and formerly in Denmark. In earlier times, each sýsla had its own ting (assembly), the so-called várting ("spring ting"). See also Medieval Scandinavian laws A thing or ting ( Old Norse, Old English and Icelandic: þing; other modern

Geography

The uninhabited island Lítla Dímun. Lítla Dímun is a small island between the islands of Suðuroy and Stóra Dímun in the Faroe Islands.

Main article: Geography of the Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands are an island group consisting of eighteen islands off the coast of Northern Europe, between the Norwegian Sea and the north Atlantic Ocean, about halfway between Iceland and Norway; the closest neighbours being the Northern and Western Isles of Scotland. The Faroe Islands are an Island group off the coast of Northern Europe, between the Norwegian Sea and the north Atlantic Ocean, about half-way Currents In the Norwegian Sea and Greenland Sea surface water descends two to three kilometres down to the bottom of the ocean forming cold oxygen-rich groundwater The Northern Isles ( Old Norse: Norðreyjar) are a chain of Islands off the north coast of mainland Scotland. The Outer Hebrides, ( officially known for local government purposes by the Gaelic name Na h-Eileanan Siar) comprise an island Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Its coordinates are 62°00′N, 06°47′W.

Its area is 1,399 square kilometres (540 sq. mi), and has no major lakes or rivers. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. There are 1,117 kilometres (694 mi) of coastline, and no land boundaries with any other country. A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States The only island that is uninhabited is Lítla Dímun. Lítla Dímun is a small island between the islands of Suðuroy and Stóra Dímun in the Faroe Islands.

The islands are rugged and rocky with some low peaks; the coasts are mostly bordered by cliffs. The highest point is Slættaratindur, 882 metres (2,894 ft) above sea level. Slættaratindur is the highest Mountain in the Faroe Islands at an altitude of 882 Metres It is located in the northern part of Eysturoy between the villages of A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit There are areas below sea level.

The Faroe Islands are dominated by tholeiitic basalt lava which was part of the great Thulean Plateau during the Paleogene period. Tholeiitic basalt is an Igneous rock, a type of Basalt. Like all basalt the rock type is dominated by Clinopyroxene plus Plagioclase, with minor Lava is molten rock expelled by a Volcano during an eruption When first expelled from a volcanic vent it is a Liquid at Temperatures The Thulean Plateau also known as the Thulean Province, was a great Basaltic Lava plain that existed during the Paleogene period which possibly The Paleogene (alternatively Palaeogene) is a geologic period and system that began 65 ^[1]

Distances to nearest countries and islands

• North Rona (uninhabited, Scotland): 256 km (159 mi)
• Sula Sgeir (uninhabited, Scotland): 257 km (160 miles)
• Shetland (Foula) (Scotland): 284 km (176  mi)
• Scotland (British Mainland): 310 km (193 mi)
• Iceland: 450 km (280 miles)
• Norway: 675 km (419 miles)
• Ireland: 678 km (421 miles)

Economy

Main article: Economy of the Faroe Islands

A local fisherman in Klaksvík

After the severe economic troubles of the early 1990s, brought on by a drop in the vital fish catch and poor management of the economy, the Faroe Islands have come back in the last few years, with unemployment down to 5% in mid-1998. Rona (or Rònaidh in Gaelic) is a remote Scottish Island in the North Atlantic. The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States Sula Sgeir ( Scottish Gaelic based on the Old Norse: súla, "gannet" and sker, "skerry" is a small uninhabited Shetland (formerly spelled Zetland, from etland; Old Norse non Hjaltland; Sealtainn is an Archipelago off the northeast coast of See Fula for the African people and language family Foula ( Fugløy "fowl island" is one of Great Britain ’s most Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland ( ( Ísland or Lýðveldið Ísland ( Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world After the severe economic troubles of the early 1990s brought on by a drop in the vital Fish catch and poor management of the economy the Faroe Islands have come back Klaksvík is the second largest town of the Faroe Islands.The town is located on Borðoy, which is one of the Fish are aquatic Vertebrate animals that are typically ectothermic (previously Cold-blooded) covered with scales, and equipped with two In 2006 unemployment declined to 3%, one of the lowest rates in Europe. Nevertheless, the almost total dependence on fishing means that the economy remains extremely vulnerable. Petroleum found close to the Faroese area gives hope for deposits in the immediate area, which may provide a basis for sustained economic prosperity. Petroleum ( L petroleum, from Greek πετρέλαιον, lit

Since 2000, new information technology and business projects have been fostered in the Faroe Islands to attract new investment. Information technology ( IT) as defined by the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA is "the study design development implementation support The introduction of Burger King in Tórshavn was widely publicized and a sign of the globalization of Faroese culture. Burger King ( often abbreviated to Tórshavn (ˈtʰɔuʂhaun is the Capital of the Faroe Islands. Culture of the Faroe Islands has its roots in the Nordic culture It is not yet known whether these projects will succeed in broadening the islands' economic base. While having one of the lowest unemployment rates in Europe, this should not necessarily be taken as a sign of a recovering economy, as many young students move to Denmark and other countries once they are finished with high school. This leaves a largely middle-aged and elderly population that may lack the skills and knowledge to fill newly developed positions on the Faroes.

Transportation

The new ferry Smyril enters the Faroe Islands

Main article: Transportation in the Faroe Islands

Vágar Airport has scheduled service to destinations from Vágar Island. The Smyril is the largest domestic Ferry of the Faroe Islands, owned by Strandfaraskip Landsins. History The general history of the Faroese transportation-system can be summed up into four general periods 19th century and earlier In the first period Vágar Airport (Vága Floghavn Vágar Lufthavn is the only airport in the Faroe Islands, a self-governing territory of Denmark. Vagar is also the old name of Walls Shetland Islands Vágar is one of the 18 islands in the archipelago of the Faroe Islands and the most The largest Faroese airline is Atlantic Airways. An airline provides air transport services for Passengers or Freight, generally with a recognized operating certificate or license Not to be confused with Atlantic Airlines, a British airline Atlantic Airways ( is the national Airline of the Faroe Islands

Due to the rocky terrain and relatively small size of the Faroe Islands, its transportation system was not as extensive as other places of the world. This situation has changed, and today the infrastructure has been developed extensively. Infrastructure typically refers to the technical structures that support a society such as Roads Water supply, Wastewater, Power grids Some 80% of the population in the islands is connected by under-ocean tunnels, bridges, and causeways which bind the three largest islands and three other large islands to the northeast together, while the other two large islands to the south of the main area are connected to the main area with new fast ferries. Tunnels and bridges are an important part of the Faroese transportation net A bridge is a Structure built to span a Gorge, Valley, Road, railroad track, River, Body of water In modern usage a causeway is a road or railway elevated by a bank usually across a broad Body of water or Wetland. See also Merchant ship A ferry is a form of transport usually a Boat or Ship, used to carry (or ferry) passengers and There are good roads that lead to every village in the islands, except for seven of the smaller islands with only one village each. A road is an identifiable route, way or path between two or more places.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of the Faroe Islands

Faroese folk dancers in national costumes. The vast majority of the population are ethnic Faroese, of Norse descent

The vast majority of the population are ethnic Faroese, of Norse and Celtic descent. The Faroese or Faroe Islanders ( Føroyingar) are the people of the Faroe Islands in Northern Europe of Norse and Celtic Terminology and usage As a cultural term "Scandinavia" has no official definition and is subject to usage by those who identify with the culture in question as well Celts (ˈkɛlts or /ˈsɛlts/, see Names of the Celts ^[2]

Recent DNA analyses have revealed that Y chromosomes, tracing male descent, are 87% Scandinavian. Terminology and usage As a cultural term "Scandinavia" has no official definition and is subject to usage by those who identify with the culture in question as well ^[3] The studies show that mitochondrial DNA, tracing female descent, is 84% Scottish / Irish. Mitochondrial DNA ( mtDNA) is the DNA located in Organelles called mitochondria. The Scots people ( Scots Gaelic: Albannaich) are a Nation and an Ethnic group indigenous to Scotland. The Irish people ( Irish: Muintir na hÉireann, na hÉireannaigh, na Gaeil) are a Western European Ethnic group who originate ^[4]

Of the approximately 48,000 inhabitants of the Faroe Islands (16,921 private households (2004)), 98% are realm citizens, meaning Faroese, Danish, or Greenlandic. The term Dane may refer to People with a Danish ancestral or ethnic identity whether living in Denmark, emigrants or the descendants of emigrants By birthplace one can derive the following origins of the inhabitants: born on the Faroes 91. 7%, in Denmark 5. The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe 8%, and in Greenland 0. Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat meaning "Land of the Greenlanders" Grønland is a self-governing Danish Province located between the 3%. The largest group of foreigners is Icelanders comprising 0. Icelanders are the Nation or Ethnic group of Iceland descended primarily from Norsemen of Scandinavia. 4% of the population, followed by Norwegians and Polish, each comprising 0. Norwegians See also History of Norway and Demography of Norway. The Polish people, or Poles, (Polacy) are a Western Slavic Ethnic group of Central Europe, living predominantly in Poland. 2%. Altogether, on the Faroe Islands there are people from 77 different nationalities.

Faroese is spoken in the entire country as a first language. Faroese ( føroyskt ˈføːɹɪst or) often also spelled Faeroese (cf It is not possible to say exactly how many people worldwide speak the Faroese language. This is for two reasons: Firstly, many ethnic Faroese live in Denmark and few who are born there return to the Faroes with their parents or as adults. Secondly, there are some established Danish families on the Faroes who speak Danish at home.

The Faroese language is one of the smallest of the Germanic languages. The Germanic languages are a group of related languages that constitute a branch of the Indo-European (IE Language family. Faroese grammar is most similar to Icelandic and Old Norse. Icelandic ( is a North Germanic language, the language of Iceland. Old Norse is the North Germanic language that was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and inhabitants of their overseas settlements during the Viking Age In contrast, spoken Faroese differs much from Icelandic and is closer to Norwegian dialects from the west coast of Norway. Norwegian ( norsk) is a North Germanic Language spoken primarily in Norway, where it is an official language Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional In the twentieth century, Faroese became the official language and since the Faroes are a part of the Danish realm Danish is taught in schools as a compulsory second language. Danish ( d̥ænsɡ̊ is one of the North Germanic languages (also called Scandinavian languages a sub-group of the Germanic branch of the

Faroese language policy provides for the active creation of new terms in Faroese suitable for modern life.

Population Trends (1327-2004)

Faroese stamp commemorating the arrival of Christianity in the islands

If the first inhabitants of the Faroe Islands were Irish monks, then they must have lived as a very small group of settlers. Later, when the Vikings colonised the Islands, there was a considerable increase in the population. However, it never exceeded 5,000 until the eighteenth century. The 18th century lasted from 1701 to 1800 in the Gregorian calendar, in accordance with the Anno Domini / Common Era numbering system Around 1349, about half of the islands' people died of the plague.

Only with the rise of the deep sea fishery (and thus independence from difficult agriculture) and with general progress in the health service was rapid population growth possible in the Faroes. Beginning in the eighteenth century, the population increased tenfold in 200 years.

At the beginning of the 1990s, the Faroe Islands entered a deep economic crisis with heavy, noticeable emigration; however, this trend reversed in subsequent years to a net immigration.

Urbanization and regionalization

The Faroese population is spread across most of the country; it was not until recent decades that significant urbanization occurred. Urbanizationn (also spelled urbanisation) is the physical growth of Urban areas into rural or natural land as a result of population in-migration to an existing Industrialisation has been remarkably decentralised, and the country has therefore maintained quite a viable rural culture. Nevertheless, villages with poor harbour facilities have been the losers in the development from agriculture to fishing, and in the most peripheral agricultural areas, also known as the the outer islands, there are scarcely any young people left. The Outer Islands (Útoyggjar is the term normally used to describe the Outer Periphery of the Faroe Islands. In recent decades, the village-based social structure has nevertheless been placed under pressure; instead there has been a rise in interconnected "centres" that are better able to provide goods and services than the badly connected periphery. This means that shops and services are now relocating en masse from the villages into the centres, and in turn this also means that slowly but steadily the Faroese population concentrates in and around the centres.

In the 1990s the old national policy of developing the villages (Bygdamenning) was abandoned, and instead the government started a process of regional development (Økismenning). The term "region" referred to the large islands of the Faroes. Nevertheless the government was not able to press through the structural reform of merging the small rural municipalities in order to create sustainable, decentralized entities that could drive forward the regional development. As the regional development has been difficult on the administrative level, the government has instead made heavy investments in infrastructure, interconnecting the regions.

Altogether it becomes less meaningful to perceive the Faroes as a society based on various islands and regions. The huge investments in roads, bridges and sub-sea tunnels (see also Transportation in the Faroe Islands) have tied together the islands, creating a coherent economic and cultural sphere that covers almost 90% of the entire population. History The general history of the Faroese transportation-system can be summed up into four general periods 19th century and earlier In the first period From this perspective it is reasonable to perceive the Faroes as a dispersed city or even to refer to it as the Faroese Network City.

Religion

Main article: Faroese religion

Church of Viðareiði from 1892

According to Færeyinga Saga, Sigmundur Brestisson brought Christianity to the islands in 999. Faroese religion is part of the Lutheran evangelical movement Viðareiði (literally Wood-Isthmus) is the northernmost settlement in the Faroe Islands and lies on the Island of Viðoy, which belongs to the The Færeyinga Saga, the Norse saga of Faroemen, is the story of how the Faroes were converted to Christianity and became a part of the Sigmundur Brestisson (961 &ndash 1005 introduced Christianity to the Faroe Islands in 999 Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings However, archaeology from a site in Leirvík suggests that Celtic Christianity may have arrived 150 years earlier, or more. Archaeology, archeology, or archæology (from Greek grc ἀρχαιολογία archaiologia – grc ἀρχαῖος archaīos Leirvík is a town on the Faroe Islands and an important regional ferry harbour at the east coast of the second largest island Eysturoy. Celtic Christianity, or Insular Christianity (sometimes called the Celtic Church or the British Church) broadly refers to the Early Medieval The Faroe Islands' church Reformation was completed on 1 January 1540. The Protestant Reformation was a reform movement in Europe that began in 1517 though its roots lie further back in time New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC According to official statistics from 2002, 84. 1% of the Faroese population are members of the state church, the Faroese People's Church (Fólkakirkjan), a form of Lutheranism. The Church of the Faroe Islands ( Faroese Fólkakirkjan) was a diocese of the Lutheran Church of Denmark until it became independent Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther Faroese members of the clergy who have had historical importance include V. U. Hammershaimb (1819-1909), Frederik Petersen (1853-1917) and, perhaps most significantly, Jákup Dahl (1878-1944), who had a great influence in making sure that the Faroese language was spoken in the church instead of Danish. Venceslaus Ulricus Hammershaimb (1819 &ndash 1909 established the modern orthography of Faroese, the language of the Faroe Islands, in 1854 Fríðrikur Petersen (1853 - 1917 was a noted Faroese Politician and clergyman of the Faroese People's Church (Fólkakirkjan a form of Lutheranism Jákup Dahl (English and German Jacob Dahl) (1878–1944 was a Faroese Provost and Bible translator. Faroese ( føroyskt ˈføːɹɪst or) often also spelled Faeroese (cf Danish ( d̥ænsɡ̊ is one of the North Germanic languages (also called Scandinavian languages a sub-group of the Germanic branch of the

In the late 1820s, the Christian Evangelical religious movement, the Plymouth Brethren, was established in England. The Plymouth Brethren is a Conservative, Evangelical Christian movement, whose history can be traced to Dublin, Ireland England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland In 1865, a member of this movement, William Gibson Sloan, travelled to the Faroes from Shetland. William Gibson Sloan ( * 4 September 1838 in Dalry in North Ayrshire, Scotland - † 4 September 1914 in Shetland (formerly spelled Zetland, from etland; Old Norse non Hjaltland; Sealtainn is an Archipelago off the northeast coast of At the turn of the nineteenth century, the Faroese Plymouth Brethren numbered thirty. The 19th century of the Common Era began on January 1, 1801 and ended on December 31, 1900, according to the Gregorian calendar Today, approximately 10% of the Faroese population are members of the Open Brethren community (Brøðrasamkoman). About 5% belong to other Christian churches, such as the Adventists, who operate a private school in Tórshavn. The term Adventist generally refers to someone who believes in the Second Advent of Jesus (popularly known as the Second coming) in the tradition of the Millerites Jehovah's Witnesses also number four congregations (approximately 80 to 100 members). Jehovah's Witnesses is a restorationist, millenialist Christian denomination The Roman Catholic congregation comprises approximately 170 members. The municipality of Tórshavn operates their old Franciscan school. Tórshavn (ˈtʰɔuʂhaun is the Capital of the Faroe Islands. The term Franciscan is commonly used to refer to members of Catholic There are also around fifteen Bahá'ís who meet at four different places. The Bahá'í Faith is a Religion founded by Bahá'u'lláh in nineteenth-century Persia, emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind Unlike Iceland, there is no organized Ásatrú community, but there is a fair share of pagan lore such as ballads with pagan content, and to this day it is not officially accepted to perform Faroese ballads in consecrated buildings. Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland ( ( Ísland or Lýðveldið Ísland ( is Ásatrú ( Icelandic for " Æsir faith" auːsatruː in Old Norse; Norwegian Åsatru, Swedish

The best known church buildings in the Faroe Islands include St. Olafs Church and the Magnus Cathedral in Kirkjubøur; the Vesturkirkjan and the Maria Church, both of which are situated in Tórshavn; the church of Fámjin; the octagonal church in Haldarsvík; Christianskirkjan in Klaksvík and also the two pictured here. Kirkjubøur is the southernmost village on Streymoy, Faroe Islands and the country's most important historical site Fámjin is a village in the Faroe Islands. Population 115 (2006 Location Postal code (Zip FO 870 Municipality Fámjins Haldarsvik is a small village located on the north-east coast of Eysturoy. Klaksvík is the second largest town of the Faroe Islands.The town is located on Borðoy, which is one of the

In 1948, Victor Danielsen (Plymouth Brethren) completed the first Bible translation. Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin It was translated into Faroese from different modern languages. Jacob Dahl and Kristian Osvald Viderø (Fólkakirkjan) completed the second translation in 1961. The latter was translated from the original languages into Faroese.

Culture

Main article: Culture of the Faroe Islands

Ólavsøka

The annual ólavsøka parade on the 28th of July

The national holiday Ólavsøka, is on the 29 July, commemorating the death of Saint Olaf. Culture of the Faroe Islands has its roots in the Nordic culture Ólavsøka is a national holiday of the Faroe Islands, celebrated on July 29. Events 1014 - Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars: Battle of Kleidion: Byzantine emperor Basil II inflicts a decisive defeat The celebrations are held in Tórshavn. They commence on the evening of the 28th, and carry on until the 31 July. Events 30 BC - Battle of Alexandria: Mark Antony achieves a minor victory over Octavian 's forces but most of his army subsequently

The official part of the celebration starts on the 29th, with the opening of the Faroese Parliament, a custom which dates back some 900 years. The Løgting, or determined in Faroese Løgtingið (full official name Føroya løgting "Løgting of the Faroes" is the Parliament ^[5] This begins with a service held in Tórshavn Cathedral, all members of parliament as well as civil and church officials walk to the cathedral in a procession. Tórshavner Cathedral (in Faroese Havnar Kirkja or Dómkirkjan is the second oldest received church of the Faroe Islands, on Tinganes in the old town of Tórshavn All of the parish ministers take turns giving the sermon. After the service, the procession returns to the parliament for the opening ceremony.

Other celebrations are marked by different kind of sports competitions, the rowing competition (in Tórshavn harbour) being the most popular, art exhibitions, pop concerts, and the famous Faroese dance. The Faroese dance ( føroyskur dansur) is the national Chain dance of the Faroe Islands, accompanied by Kvæði, the Faroese ballads The celebrations have many facets, and only a few are mentioned here.

Another way many people mark the occasion is to wear the national Faroese dress.

The Nordic House in the Faroe Islands

The Nordic House in the Faroe Islands (in Faroese Norðurlandahúsið) is the most important cultural institution in the Faroes. The Nordic House (in Faroese Norðurlandahúsið) is the most important cultural institution in the Faroe Islands. Faroese ( føroyskt ˈføːɹɪst or) often also spelled Faeroese (cf Its aim is to support and promote Nordic and Faroese culture, locally and in the Nordic region. Terminology and usage As a cultural term "Scandinavia" has no official definition and is subject to usage by those who identify with the culture in question as well Erlendur Patursson (1913-1986), Faroese member of the Nordic Council, brought forward the idea of a Nordic cultural house in the Faroe Islands. Erlendur Patursson ( 20 August 1913  – 16 June 1986) was a Faroese politician and writer The Nordic Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers is an intergovernmental forum for co-operation between the Nordic countries. A Nordic competition for architects was held in 1977, in which 158 architects participated. Winners were Ola Steen from Norway and Kolbrún Ragnarsdóttir from Iceland. Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional Iceland, officially the Republic of Iceland ( ( Ísland or Lýðveldið Ísland ( By staying true to folklore, the architects built the Nordic House to resemble an enchanting hill of elves. History The concept of folklore developed as part of the 19th century ideology of Romantic nationalism, leading to the reshaping of oral traditions to serve modern ideological An elf is a creature of Norse mythology. The elves were originally imagined as a race of minor nature and fertility gods, who are often pictured as youthful-seeming The house opened in Tórshavn in 1983. Tórshavn (ˈtʰɔuʂhaun is the Capital of the Faroe Islands. The Nordic House is a cultural organization under the Nordic Council of Ministers. The Nordic Council and the Nordic Council of Ministers is an intergovernmental forum for co-operation between the Nordic countries. The Nordic House is run by a steering committee of eight, of which three are Faroese and five from the other Nordic countries. There is also a local advisory body of fifteen members, representing Faroese cultural organizations. The House is managed by a director appointed by the steering committee for a four-year term.

Music

Main article: Music of the Faroe Islands

Although Danish born, is Kristian Blak one of the most influential persons in the Faroese music scene?

The Faroe Islands have a very active music scene. Faroese music is primarily vocal accompanied by the Fiddle (which arrived in the 17th century and European dances like the Minuet and Polka. Kristian Blak (born 31 march 1947) originally from Fredericia, Denmark, is living in the Faroe Islands where he is an important composer The islands have their own symphony orchestra, the classical ensemble Aldubáran and many different choirs; the most well-known being Havnarkórið. The most well-known Faroese composers are Sunleif Rasmussen and the Dane Kristian Blak. Sunleif Rasmussen (born on March 19 1961 in Sandur in the Faroe Islands) is the foremost Faroese composer of classical music Kristian Blak (born 31 march 1947) originally from Fredericia, Denmark, is living in the Faroe Islands where he is an important composer Blak is also head of the record company Tutl. Tutl is a Record label of the Faroe Islands, founded in 1977 by the Danish jazz musician and composer Kristian Blak.

The first Faroese opera ever was by Sunleif Rasmussen. It is entitled Í Óðamansgarði (The Madman´s Garden), and it opened on the October 12, 2006, at the Nordic House. Events 539 BC - The army of Cyrus the Great of Persia takes Babylon. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The opera is based on a short story by the writer William Heinesen. Andreas William Heinesen ( 15 January 1900 - 12 March 1991) is the most famous writer from the Faroe Islands.

Young Faroese musicians who have gained much popularity recently are Eivør (Eivør Pálsdóttir), Lena (Lena Andersen), Teitur (Teitur Lassen), Høgni Reistrup, Høgni Lisberg and Brandur Enni. Eivør Pálsdóttir ˈpɔlsˌdœʰtəɹ}} (born July 21 1983 in Syðrugøta, Faroe Islands) is a Faroese singer/songwriter Teitur (born 1977 is a Singer-songwriter from the Faroe Islands. Høgni Lisberg (Born on June 7 1982 in Tórshavn /Faroe Island is a musician currently living in Leirvík, Eysturoy, and is one of

Well-known bands include Týr, Gestir, Boys In A Band, 200 and the former band Clickhaze. Týr (tʰʊɪːɹ is a band from the Faroe Islands which plays a combination of heavy metal and Folk music, with strong Progressive metal elements Faroese music is primarily vocal accompanied by the Fiddle (which arrived in the 17th century and European dances like the Minuet and Polka. Boys in a Band are an indie rock band from the Faroe Islands. Clickhaze was a rock/ Trip hop band from the Faroe Islands. The group was active from 1998 to 2003

The festival for contemporary and classical music, Summartónar, is held each summer. Large open-air music festivals for popular music with both local and international musicians participating are G! Festival in Gøta in July and Summarfestivalurin in Klaksvík in August. The G! Festival (commonly known as G! is held annually at the seaside village Gøta on Eysturoy. Norðragøta is a village on Eysturoy, Faroe Islands. Information and history Population 548 Postal code (Zip FO Summarfestivalurin (the Summer Festival was first held in August 2004 in Klaksvík in the Faroe Islands. Klaksvík is the second largest town of the Faroe Islands.The town is located on Borðoy, which is one of the

Traditional food

Traditional Faroese food: Dried mutton and whale meat and blubber.

Traditional Faroese food is mainly based on meat and potatoes and uses few fresh vegetables. The potato is a Starchy Tuberous crop Vegetable from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae Mutton is the basis of many meals, and one of the most popular treats is skerpikjøt, well aged, wind-dried mutton which is quite chewy. Lamb, hogget, and mutton are the meat of Domestic sheep. The meat of an animal in its first year is lamb; that of an older sheep is hogget Skerpikjøt is a typical dish of the Faroe Islands. It is a type of wind-dried Mutton. The drying shed, known as a hjallur, is a standard feature in many Faroese homes, particularly in the small towns and villages. Other traditional foods are ræst kjøt (semi-dried mutton) and ræstur fiskur, matured fish. Another Faroese specialty is Grind og spik, pilot whale meat and blubber. Grind og spik is a typical dish of the Faroe Islands. It consists of Pilot Whale meat and Blubber. The pilot whale is either of two Species of Cetacean in the Genus Globicephala. Blubber is a thick layer of vascularized Fat found under the skin of all Cetaceans Pinnipeds and Sirenians Description (A parallel meat/fat dish made with offal is garnatálg). Offal is the Entrails and Internal organs of a Butchered Animal. Garnatálg is a traditional Meat specialty of the Faroe Islands, specifically the town of Trøllanes located in the north of the island of Kalsoy Well into the last century meat and blubber from the pilot whale meant food for a long time. Fresh fish also features strongly in the traditional local diet, as do seabirds, such as Faroese puffins, and their eggs. Seabirds are Birds that have adapted to life within the marine environment Puffin is a speciality of the Faroe Islands particularly popular on the island of Mykines.

Further information: Whaling in the Faroe Islands

Public holidays

See also: Public holidays in Denmark

Climate

The climate is technically defined as Maritime Subarctic according to the (Köppen climate classification:Cfc). Whaling in the Faroe Islands has been practised since at least the tenth century This is a list of public Holidays in Denmark. Danish public holidays are by law set to be the same as the holidays defined by the Danish Church New Year's Day is the first day of the Year. On the modern Gregorian calendar, it is celebrated on January 1, as it was also in ancient Rome (though New Year See also New Year The Ancient Romans began their consular year on January 1st since 153 BC In the Christian Liturgical calendar, Maundy Thursday (also known as Holy Thursday) is the feast or holy day falling on the Thursday before Easter Good Friday, also called Holy Friday or Great Friday, is the Friday preceding Easter Sunday ("Pascha" Easter ( Greek: Πάσχα Pascha or Pasxa) is the most important religious feast in the Christian Liturgical year. Easter Monday is the day after Easter Sunday and is celebrated as a Holiday in some largely Christian cultures especially Roman Catholic A flag day is a Flag -related holiday—either a day designated for flying a certain flag (such as a National flag) or a day set aside to celebrate a historical event Events 1607 - Eighty Years' War: The Dutch fleet destroys the anchored Spanish fleet at Gibraltar. Store Bededag, translated literally as Great Prayer Day or more loosely as General Prayer Day, "All Prayers" Day, Great Day of Prayers The general and most common understanding of the Christian Doctrine of Ascension holds that Jesus bodily ascended to Heaven in the presence Pentecost (πεντηκοστή, pentekostē, "the fiftieth day" is one of the prominent feasts in the Christian Liturgical year, celebrated the Events 781 BC - The first historic Solar eclipse is recorded in China. Whit Monday or Pentecost Monday (also known as Monday of the Holy Spirit) is the Holiday celebrated the day after Pentecost, a Movable feast Events 70 - Titus and his Roman Legions breach the middle wall of Jerusalem in the Siege of Jerusalem Constitution Day is a Holiday to honor the Constitution of a country Events 70 - Titus and his Roman Legions breach the middle wall of Jerusalem in the Siege of Jerusalem Ólavsøka is a national holiday of the Faroe Islands, celebrated on July 29. Events 1540 - Thomas Cromwell is executed at the order of Henry VIII of England on charges of Treason. Ólavsøka is a national holiday of the Faroe Islands, celebrated on July 29. Events 1014 - Byzantine-Bulgarian Wars: Battle of Kleidion: Byzantine emperor Basil II inflicts a decisive defeat Christmas Eve, December 24, is the day before Christmas Day, the celebrated birthday of Jesus. Events 563 - The Byzantine church Hagia Sophia in Constantinople is dedicated for the second time after being destroyed by Earthquakes Events 274 - Roman Emperor Aurelian Boxing Day is a public holiday in the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, as well as many other members of the Commonwealth Events 1481 - Battle of Westbrook - Holland defeats troops of Utrecht. New Year's Eve is on December 31, the final day of the Gregorian year and the day before New Year's Day. Events 406 – Vandals, Alans and Suebians cross the Rhine, beginning an invasion of Gallia. The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems It was developed by Wladimir Köppen, a German climatologist The overall character of the islands' climate is determined by the strong cooling influence of the Atlantic Ocean, which here produces the North Atlantic Drift. This, together with the remoteness of any sources of warm airflows ensures that winters are mild (mean temperature 3. 0 to 4. 0°C) while summers are cool (mean temperature 9. 5 to 10. 5°C). The islands are windy, cloudy and cool throughout the year with over 260 rainy days in the year. The islands lie in the path of depressions moving north eastwards and this means that strong winds and heavy rain are possible at all times of the year. Sunny days are rare and overcast days are common. ^[6]

Flora

Main article: Flora of the Faroe Islands

Marsh marigold (Caltha palustris) very common in the Faroe Islands in May-June. The natural vegetation of the Faroe Islands consists of ca 400 different plant species Caltha palustris commonly known as Kingcup or Marsh Marigold (also known as Calthus palustris syn Caltha palustris commonly known as Kingcup or Marsh Marigold (also known as Calthus palustris syn - @Faroenature/Finn

The natural vegetation of the Faroe Islands is dominated by Arctic-alpine plants, wild flowers, grasses, moss and lichen. Grass is the common word that generally describes Monocotyledonous green Plants The family Gramineae ( Poaceae) are the "true grasses" and include Mosses are small soft Plants that are typically 1–10  cm (0 Lichens (ˈlaɪkən or /lɪtʃən/ are symbiotic associations of a Fungus (the mycobiont with a photosynthetic partner (the photobiont also known as Most of the lowland area is grassland and some is heath, dominated by shrubby heathers, mainly Calluna vulgaris. Grasslands (also called greenswards) are areas where the Vegetation is dominated by Grasses ( Poaceae) and other Herbaceous (non-woody Calluna vulgaris (also known as Ling is the sole species in the Genus Calluna in the family Ericaceae. Calluna vulgaris (also known as Ling is the sole species in the Genus Calluna in the family Ericaceae.

The Faroese nature is characterised by the lack of trees, and resembles that of Connemara and Dingle in Ireland and the Scottish islands. Connemara (in Irish: Conamara) which derives from Conmhaicne Mara (meaning descendants of Con Mhac of the sea is a district in the west of Dingle (An Daingean or Daingean Uí Chúis) is a town in County Kerry in Ireland on the Atlantic Coast some west-south-west of Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world This is a list of the Islands of Scotland, the mainland of which is part of the island of Great Britain.

A few small plantations consisting of plants collected from similar climates like Tierra del Fuego in South America and Alaska thrive on the islands. Tierra del Fuego ( Spanish for " Land of Fire " in English tiˈɛərə dɛl ˈfweɪgoʊ] Spanish ˈtjerað̞elˈfweɰo is an Archipelago South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a Alaska ( Аляска Alyaska) is a state in the United States of America, in the northwest of the North American continent

Fauna

Main article: Fauna of the Faroe Islands

Birds

The bird fauna of the Faroe Islands is dominated by sea-birds and birds attracted to open land like heather, probably due to the lack of woodland and other suitable habitats. The Fauna of the Faroe Islands has due to its remote location in the North Atlantic Ocean lots of breeding sea birds and marine animals Seabirds are Birds that have adapted to life within the marine environment Calluna vulgaris (also known as Ling is the sole species in the Genus Calluna in the family Ericaceae. Many species have developed special Faroese sub-species: Eider, Starling, Wren, Guillemot, and Black Guillemot. For the river see Eider River. For other uses see Eider (disambiguation. Starlings are small to medium-sized Passerine Birds in the family Sturnidae. The wrens are Passerine birds in the mainly New World family Troglodytidae. Guillemot is the Common name for several species of Seabird in the Auk family comprising two genera Uria and Cepphus The Black Guillemot or Tystie, Cepphus grylle, is a medium-sized alcid at 32-38 cm in length and with a 49-58 cm wingspan ^[7]

Mammals

Only a few species of wild land mammals are found in the Faroe Islands today, all introduced by humans.

Grey Seals (Halichoerus grypus) are very common around the Faroese shores.

Several species of cetacean live in the waters around the Faroe Islands. The Order Cetacea (sɪˈteɪʃiə L cetus, whale includes Whales Dolphins and Porpoises Cetus is Best known are the Short-finned Pilot Whales (Globicephala melaena), but the more exotic Killer whales (Orcinus orca) sometimes visit the Faroese fjords. The Short-finned Pilot Whale ( Globicephala macrorhynchus) is one of the two Species of Cetacean in the Genus Globicephala The Orca or Killer Whale ( Orcinus orca) less commonly Blackfish or Seawolf, is the largest species of the Oceanic dolphin family A fjord or fiord (fjɔːd|fiːɔːd or fiːɔːd is a long narrow Inlet with steep sides created in a valley carved by glacial activity.

Natural history and biology

A collection of Faroese marine algae resulting from a survey sponsored by NATO, the British Museum (Natural History) and the Carlsberg Foundation, is preserved in the Ulster Museum (catalogue numbers: F3195—F3307). Algae ( sing. alga are a large and diverse group of simple typically Autotrophic organisms ranging from Unicellular to Multicellular forms The North Atlantic Treaty The British Museum is a Museum of human history and culture in London. The Ulster Museum is located in the Botanical Gardens in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and has around 8000 square metres of public display space featuring It is one of ten exsiccatae sets.

See also

References

• Irvine, D. E. G. 1982. Seaweeds of the Faroes 1: The flora. Bull. Br. Mus. nat. Hist. (Bot. ) 10: 109 - 131.
• Tittley, I. , Farnham, W. F. and Gray, P. W. G. 1982. Seaweeds of the Faroes 2: Sheltered fjords and sounds. Bull. Br. Mus. nat. Hist. (Bot. ) 10: 133 - 151.
• Irvine, David Edward Guthrie. 1982. Seaweed of the Faroes 1: The flora. Bull. Br. Mus. nat. Hist. (Bot. ) 10(3): 109 - 131.

External links

• Faroe Islands travel guide from Wikitravel
• Prime Minister's Office - Official site
• National Library of the Faroe Islands
• Faroe Islands Tourist Guide
• Gallery of stunning photos of the Faroe Islands
• Statistics - Data about the Faroese community
• Faroese banknote series Information about Faroese banknotes
• Visit Faroe Islands - Official tourist site
• Visit Klaksvik - Klaksvik local tourist site
• Framtak in the Faroe Islands - A comprehensive introduction to the Faroe Islands
• Faroeislands.dk - Is a private page covering all villages on the Faroe Islands
• Nordic House - Official site of the Nordic House in the Faroe Islands
• [2] - March 2007 New York Times Travel section feature
• Guesthouse undir Fjalli - guesthouse accommodation in Torshavn