The Faroe Islands are a group of 18 islands located in the North Atlantic , more specifically between Scotland and Iceland. It is an autonomous region of the Kingdom of Denmark, self-governed by itself in all matters except foreign affairs, legal system and defense. Faroe Islands means ‘Islands of lambs’.
It enjoys an oceanic climate , and despite its latitude, the mild influence of the Gulf Stream makes the climate milder than we might expect. The temperature range is therefore very low , with cool summers and mild winters.
With regard to rainfall, they approach 1,400 mm per year . Strong wind and fog are common and the sky is usually somewhat overcast.
Almost 50,000 inhabitants live on the islands, most of them Faroese, Danes and Greenlanders. We also find 0.4% Icelanders and 0.2% Norwegians and Poles. The official languages ​​are Faroese and Danish. Almost 100% of the population is Christian and 84% belong to the Lutheran church.
The islands traditionally lived by hunting lambs and fishing. However, for more than 20 years the latter has been decreasing due to problems in catches. Thus, the Government is trying to promote tourism and also technologically advanced companies . The fact that university students go to Denmark to study makes it impossible to retain talent on the islands and this could complicate the technological leap mentioned above.
Recent studies have shown that there is oil (in small quantities) very close to the islands. This could certainly push GDP up.
The vegetation is dominated by arctic plants, mosses, grasses and lichens. The natural vegetation is characterized by the absence of trees.
Other data of interest
– Capital: TĂłrshavn
– Official languages: Faroese and Danish
– Form of Government: Constitutional Monarchy
– Population: 49,000 inhabitants
– Area: 1339 km2
– Internet domain: .fo
– Telephone code: +298
– Currency: Faroese Crown
