Faroe Islands

Faroe Islands (Danish Færøerne; Faroese Føroyar), island group that is an integral part of Denmark, located in the North Atlantic Ocean, about midway between the Shetland Islands and Iceland. The capital and principal harbor of the islands is Tórshavn (2003 population, 18,000) on the southeastern coast of Streymoy Island; it is ice-free. Streymoy, Eysturoy, Sudhuroy, Vágar, and Bordhoy are the most important of the 18 islands, of which 17 are inhabited. The Faroes were formed by a submarine eruption of basalt during the Tertiary period (between 65 million and 1.6 million years ago). A “coal formation” (fireclay, sandstone, shale, and brown coal) makes up the secondary stratum, and this is topped by dolerite. The topography of the islands is characterized by high escarpments and plateaus separated by deep chasms. The peak of Slaettaratindur on Østerø Island is 882 m (2,894 ft) above sea level. The Faroes are traversed by a number of fjords and have deeply indented coastlines. The islands, mainly treeless because of continual high winds, have been planted with sturdy conifers, maples, and mountain ash. Once the home of a thriving fishing industry, the islands have seen fish stocks deline in recent decades. New industries are being developed to replace fishing in the local economy.

The Faroes were part of Norway until the latter part of the 14th century, after which they were held jointly with Denmark, which became sole owner in 1814. The inhabitants are of Scandinavian descent and still speak a modified form of the old Norse called Faroese. The islands passed under the military control of Britain in April 1940, during World War II, following the invasion of Denmark by German forces. The British occupation ended in September 1945.

In September 1946, as a result of a close plebiscite vote, the Lagting (parliament) of the Faroes declared the islands independent of Denmark. This action was ratified by a Lagting vote of 12 to 11. Sudhuroy, the third-largest island, however, announced its continued union with Denmark. The Danish government immediately declared the ballot inconclusive and temporarily dissolved the Lagting. A subsequent poll gave the proponents of continued union with Denmark a slight plurality, and a parliamentary delegation was invited to Copenhagen, the Danish capital, for further discussion. In 1948 an agreement was reached whereby the Faroes exercise local autonomy; foreign relations remain under the control of Denmark. The islands send two representatives to the Danish parliament. Area, 1,400 sq km (540 sq mi); population (2008 estimate) 47,770.