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The
Faroe Islands consist of 18 islands and only
1 is uninhabited.
The Faroese language is a variation of old
Norse, similar to Icelandic, and is related
to the other Scandinavian languages. |
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The islands were formed by volcanic activity 30
million years ago. The Faroese descend from Viking
farmers who arrived to the islands in the 9th century.
The archipelago was annexed to Norway in the 11th
century and became part of Denmark in the 14th century.
In 1849 the Faroes were officially incorporated
into Denmark and given two seats in the parliament.
Great Britain took control of the islands during
WW II and in 1946 the Faroese parliament declared
the islands independent of Denmark. In 1948 the
Faroes agreed to be a ’self-governing community
within the Kingdom of Denmark’, and two decades
later decided not to join the European Community
Click
here for the Lonely Planet's fact file on the
Faroes. |
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Area:
1399 sq km (545.6 sq mi)
Population:
45,500
Capital city: Tórshavn
(pop 16,500)
Language: Føroyskt
(Faroese)
Religion: Protestant,
Evangelical Lutheran
Government:
Self-governing overseas administrative division
of Denmark
Prime Minister:
Anfinn Kallsberg |
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