57 Faroe Islands Facts: Trivia About This Self-Governing Archipelago

The Faroe Islands are a nature's paradise, located between Norway and Iceland.

The Faroe Islands are 18 volcanic islands in the north Atlantic Ocean. These islands are well-known for offering visitors fantastic hiking, sea fishing, and bird-watching opportunities.

They are part of Denmark's kingdom but have been under local authority since 1948. The residents in the Faroe Islands have had the right to trade with people from all over the world. Except for military defense, the Faroese government is in charge of most government concerns.

In 1815, the archipelago, or group of islands, departed Norway. The Nordic Council has representatives from the Faroe Islands. Sheep Islands is another name for the Faroe Islands.

Facts About The Faroe Islands

Here are some interesting facts about the Faroe islands:

• The Streymin Bridge, which connects the islands of Streymoy and Eysturoy, is the world's only bridge crossing the Atlantic Ocean.
• The Faroe Islands are one of the few European countries without a McDonald's.
• Faroese is the official language of the Faroe Islands. The second official language is Danish.
• The Faroese language, which is widely spoken by everyone on the islands, is most closely related to Icelandic and the Old Norse language which does not exist now.
• English is also taught at school and is spoken by the majority of the population.
• The average lifetime of Faroese people is 82.6 years, putting them in 12th place out of 186 countries.
• In 2019, 83.9% of Faroese citizens of certain age groups were employed, which is one of the highest rates of any country in Europe.
• To drink alcohol or drive in the Faroe Islands, you must be 18 years old.
• There doesn't appear to be much crime here. The Faroe Islands have no prisons, thus any long-term convicts are taken to Denmark.
• In September 1990, the Faroese football team won their first tournament game versus Austria, resulting in a great Faroese celebration.
• Gunnar Nielsen, a defender for Motherwell in Scotland, is the only footballer from the island to have participated in the Premier League.
• One of the most fascinating facts about the island is that they have no native trees.
• The world's oldest parliamentary meeting places are said to have happened in Tinganes' parliament jetty.
• The puffin is often regarded as the country's national bird.
• Due to a lack of women on the island, males often look for spouses in southeast Asian countries.
• The Faroe Islands are known for being one of the world's largest producers of electricity, with renewables accounting for more than half of the country's electricity.
• On the Faroe Islands, there are only nine traffic lights. Eight are located in and around Torshavn, the capital, and are relatively near to one another.
• Inside the Danish Kingdom, the Faroe Islands are a self-governing region.
• Turf roofs are commonly found on many houses of the Faroe Islands, a practice that dates back over 1,000 years.
• Wireless internet is available in 97.4% of Faroese homes.
• In the winter, the average temperature is 37.4 F (3 C).
• Island's capital, Torshavn, offers free city bus transportation.
• Because the island is not part of the European Union, all trade is handled by bilateral agreements.
• The Faroese flag is an inverted cross that represents Christianity. Merki is the name of the flag, which signifies a banner.
• Flag Day is a public holiday in the Faroe Islands that honors the day when the Merki flag was finally noticed by the Danish government.
• The Faroese are one of the few countries that still hunt whales.
• Whaling is a natural element of life, according to the Faroese government.
• The cost of diverse experiences such as trips, museums visits, performances, and dining out is similar to that of northern Europe.
• In 1903, a Danish-Faroese physician, Niels R. Finsen, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine.
• The Faroe Islands have a population of 80 diverse nationalities.
• The Faroe Islands have no land that is more than 3 mi (5 km) from the sea.
• In these islands, there are just two global fast-food restaurants: Sunset Boulevard and Burger King.
• The GDP growth of the Faroe Islands is among the world's highest.

The Faroe Islands' History

Irish monks who came in the sixth century established the Faroe Islands. The earliest residents of the Faroe Islands were Irish hermit monks. The monks settled on the island carrying sheep and an ancient Irish language with them. Farmers arrived roughly 200 years later as the first Norse inhabitants.

• Between the 9th-10th centuries, Vikings settled in the Faroe Islands.
• In 1035, the Faroe Islands became a Norwegian region, and in 1380, they were conquered by Denmark along with Norway.
• They were officially removed from Norway in 1709 and were assigned to the province of Zealand, where they became a part of the Danish Kingdom.
• The Faroe Islands were conquered by British forces during the Second World War. There were over 170 weddings between British soldiers and Faroese ladies.
• The islands were given self-government under the authority of Denmark in 1948, and they were given their own flag.
• Torshavn is the capital of the Faroe Islands, which was formed in 1965.

The Faroe Islands' Tourism

• Faroe Island vacations are filled with songs, dance, and iconic folk tales which are all records of the islands' deep history. Because of the spectacular beauty of the Faroe Islands, which is home to some of the most dramatic oceans and shorelines, Faroe Islands tourism is world-famous among travelers of all ages.
• The fishing industry contributes to nearly all sales and half of the country's GDP. Tourism is the country's second-largest industry.
• The Faroe Islands have had all four distinct seasons in a single day.
• The warmer months of May to August are the best time to visit the Faroe Islands.
• Atlantic Airways offers direct flights to Vagar Airport from Edinburgh and Reykjavik, as well as Copenhagen.
• From the continent of Europe, you can catch a boat to the Faroe Islands from Hirtshals, Denmark.
• It is illegal to camp in the Faroe Islands.
• It is also forbidden to sleep in a car in a parking lot, on any property, or on the road at any time.
• Gásadalur's waterfall, the Mulafossur Waterfall, falls 197 ft (60 m) right into the sea from the cliff's edge, leaving visitors gasping for air. It is located on Vagar Island.
• Trælanípan, translated in English as the Slave Cliff, is located on the island of Vagar, near the Faroe Islands' only airport.
• Geituskorardrangur is a great place to visit if you want to be near the water. From this coastal site, you'll have a fantastic view of the sea.
• The rock formation Geituskorardrangur rises out of the north Atlantic Ocean. You will have to hike for one hour to reach the cliff.
• A boat journey to Vestmanna Sea Cliffs is a necessity if you want to witness huge numbers of birds flying over you.

The Faroe Islands Geographical Facts

• The Faroe Islands may appear strange because of their geographical isolation. Although they are 200 mi (322 km) away from their closest neighbor, they are strategically located in the shipping path between the world's two richest continents.
• They have a total land area of 540 sq mi (1,399 sq km), a coastal trade area of 105,792 sq mi (274,000 sq km), and a population of slightly more than 50,000 people.
• The northern and western islands of Scotland are the nearest neighbors.
• The islands are steep and volcanic, with Slttaratindur, at 2,894 ft (882 m) high, being the tallest mountain.
• The coasts are large hills, with many of them standing 11,155 ft (3,400 m) above the ocean and offering a great nest area for thousands of seabirds.
• Enniberg, the highest cliff, stands 2,474 ft (754 m) straight above the sea.
• The Faroe Islands are volcanic in origin and are characterized by tholeiitic basalt lava that was once part of the Thulean Plateau.