Faroe Islands

Føroyar Færøerne Faroe Islands
Flag Coat of arms
Anthem: Tú alfagra land mítt "You, my most beauteous land"
Capital	Tórshavn
Largest city	Tórshavn
Official language	Faroese, Danish
Government
- Monarch	Margrethe II
- Prime Minister	Jóannes Eidesgaard
Autonomous province	(Kingdom of Denmark)
- Home rule	1948
Area
- Total	1,399 km² (180th) 540 sq mi
- Water (%)	0.5
Population
- August 2006 estimate	47,017 (208th)
- 2004 census	48,470
- Density	34/km² (169th) 88/sq mi
GDP (PPP)	2005 estimate
- Total	$1.0 billion (not ranked)
- Per capita	$22,000 (2001 estimate) (not ranked)
HDI  (2003)	0.9411 (high) (14th)
Currency	Faroese króna2 (DKK)
Time zone	GMT (UTC)
- Summer (DST)	EST (UTC+1)
Internet TLD	.fo
Calling code	+298
1 Information for Denmark including the Faroe Islands and Greenland. 2 The currency is issued at par to the Danish kroner printed with Faroese motifs, but following same standard (size and security features of the Danish coins and banknotes). Faroese krónur (singular króna) use the Danish ISO 4217 code DKK.

The Faroe Islands or simply Faroes (Faroese: Føroyar, meaning "Sheep Islands", Danish: Færøerne) are a group of islands in Northern Europe, between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about half of the way from Iceland to Norway. They have been an autonomous region of the Kingdom of Denmark since 1948. The Faroese have, over the years, taken control of most matters except defence (they have a small organized native military in Mjørkadalur, including a small police force and coast guard) and foreign affairs, which are the responsibility of Denmark.

The Faroes have close traditional ties to Iceland, Shetland, Orkney, the Outer Hebrides and Greenland. The archipelago was detached from Norway in 1814. The Faroes are represented in the Nordic Council as a part of the Danish delegation.

History

The early history of the Faroe Islands is not very clear. Irish hermits (monks) settled in the 6th century introducing sheep and oats to the islands. Saint Brendan, who lived circa 484–578, is said to have visited the Faroe Islands on 2 or 3 occasions, naming two of the islands Sheep Island and Paradise Island of Birds.

Later the Vikings replaced the Irish settlers, bringing the Old Norse language to the islands, which locally evolved into the modern Faroese language spoken today. Although the settlers were Norwegians, most of them probably didn't come directly from Norway, but rather from the Norwegian settlements in Shetland, Orkney, and around the Irish Sea, and were so-called Norse-Gaels.

According to Færeyinga Saga, emigrants who left Norway to escape the tyranny of Harald I of Norway settled in the islands about the beginning of the 9th century. Early in the 11th 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. He introduced Christianity and, though he was subsequently murdered, Norwegian supremacy was upheld. 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. 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 monopoly trade over the Faroe Islands was abolished in 1856. Since then, the country has developed towards a modern fishing nation with its own fleet. 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.

On April 12, 1940, the Faroes were invaded and occupied by British troops. 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). In 1942–43 the British Royal Engineers built the only airport in the Faroes, Vágar Airport. 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. The Faroes declined to join Denmark in entering the European Community (now European Union) in 1973. 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.

Faroe Islands map with island names.

Politics

Tinganes in Tórshavn, seat of the government

The islands are administratively divided into 34 municipalities with about 120 cities and villages.

Traditionally, there are also the 6 sýslur (Norðoyar, Eysturoy, Streymoy, Vágar, Sandoy and Suðuroy). Sýsla means district and although it is only a police district today, it is still commonly understood as a geographical region. In earlier times, each sýsla had its own ting, the so called várting (spring ting).

Today, elections are held in the municipalities, on a national level for the Løgting, and inside the Kingdom of Denmark for the Folketing. For the Løgting elections there are 7 electoral districts, each one comprising a sýsla, while Streymoy is divided into a northern and southern part (Tórshavn region).

The government of the Faroes holds the executive power in local government affairs. The head of the government is called the Løgmaður or prime minister in English. Any other member of the cabinet is called a landsstýrismaður.

The Faroes and Denmark

The Treaty of Kiel in 1814 terminated the Danish-Norwegian union. Norway came under the rule of the King of Sweden, but the Faroe Islands, Iceland, and Greenland remained as possessions of Denmark. 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. In 1851 the Løgting was resurrected, but served mainly as an advisory power until 1948.

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. It is not considered a referendum, as the parliament was not bound to follow the decision of the vote. 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 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. 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.

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. Others see it as something to be attained gradually and with the full consent of the Danish government and the Danish nation. 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 EU

The Faroe Islands are not part of the EU, as explicitly asserted by both Rome treaties. 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. Hence, Danish people living in the Faroes are not citizens of the European Union (however, other EU nationals living there remain EU citizens). 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.

Geography

Faroe Islands NASA satellite image.

The uninhabited island Lítla Dímun.

The Faroe Islands are an island group consisting of 18 islands, off the coast of Northern Europe, between the Norwegian Sea and the north Atlantic Ocean, about half of the way from Iceland to Norway. Its coordinates are , it has an area of 1,399 square kilometres (540 sq. mi), and it includes no major lakes or rivers. There are 1,117 kilometres (694 mi) of coastline, and no land boundaries with any other country. The only island that is uninhabited is Lítla Dímun.

The Faroe Islands generally have cool summers and mild winters, with a usually overcast sky and frequent fog and heavy winds. The fog often causes delays of aeroplanes. 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.

Natural history and biology

A collection of the marine algae from the Faroes resulting from a survey sponsored by NATO, the British Museum (Natural History) and Carlsberg Foundation is preserved in the Ulster Museum catalogue numbers: F3195 - F3307. It is one of 10 exsiccatae sets.

Economy

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. 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. The Faroese hope to broaden their economic base by building new fish-processing plants. Petroleum found close to the Faroese area gives hope for deposits in the immediate area, which may provide a basis for sustained economic prosperity.

Since 2000, new information technology and business projects have been fostered in the Faroe Islands to attract new investment. 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 computing positions on the Faroes.

Transportation

the new ferry Smyril enters the Faroe Islands

Vágar Airport has scheduled service to destinations from Vágoy Island. The largest Faroese airline is Atlantic Airways.

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. Some 80% of the population in the islands is connected by under-ocean tunnels, bridges, and embankments 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 brand new fast ferries. There are good roads that lead to every village in the islands, except for seven of the smaller islands with only one village each.

Demographics

The vast majority of the population are ethnic Faroese, of Norse and Celtic descent.

Recent DNA analyses have revealed that Y chromosomes, tracing male descent, are 87% Scandinavian. The studies show that mitochondrial DNA, tracing female descent, is 84% Scottish or Irish.

Of the approximately 48,000 inhabitants of the Faroe Islands (16,921 private households (2004)), 98% are realm citizens, meaning Faroese, Danish, or Greenlandic. By birthplace one can derive the following origins of the inhabitants: born on the Faroes 91.7%, in Denmark 5.8%, and in Greenland 0.3%. The largest group of foreigners are Icelanders comprising 0.4% of the population, followed by Norwegians and Polish, each comprising 0.2%. Altogether, on the Faroe Islands there are people from 77 different nationalities.

Faroese is spoken in the entire country. It is not possible to say exactly how many people 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 the smallest of the Germanic languages. In the 20th century Faroese became the official language; Danish only has the purpose of a language of commerce.

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

Population trends

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 5000 until the 18th century. 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 18th 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

The Faroese population is spread across most of the country; it was not until recent decades that significant urbanization occurred. 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 there are scarcely any young people left. This includes areas such as Fugloy, Svínoy, Mykines, Skúvoy and Dímun, which have extremely poor connections to the rest of the country, and cannot always be reached every day, often due to bad weather. In recent decades, the village-based social structure has nevertheless been placed under pressure; instead there has been a rise in "centres" that are able to provide goods in demand in the periphery. This has meant that shops and services are now relocating en masse from the villages into the centres.

Altogether it becomes less meaningful to perceive of the Faroes as a society based on various islands. The huge investments in roads, bridges and sub-sea tunnels (see also Transportation in the Faroe Islands) has tied together the islands, creating a coherent economic and cultural sphere that covers almost 90% of the entire population. From this perspective it becomes reasonable to conceive of the Faroes as a dispersed city or even to refer to the Faroese Network City.

Religion

Tórshavn Dome

According to Færeyinga Saga, Sigmundur Brestisson brought Christianity to the islands in 999. However, a find at a dig site in Leirvík suggests that the Faroes were Christian maybe 150 years before that. The reformation was completed in the Faroe Islands on 1 January 1540. 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. 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.

In the late 1820s the Christian Evangelical religious movement the Plymouth Brethren was established in England. Around 1860 a member of this movement William Gibson Sloan travelled to the Faroes from Shetland. At the turn of the 19th Century the Faroese Plymouth Brethren counted 30 members. Today, approximately 10% of the Faroese population are members of the Brethren Community (in Faroese, Brøðrasamkoman), as they now call themselves. About 5% belong to other Christian churches, such as the Adventists, who operate a private school in Tórshavn. Jehova Witnesses also operate in 4 congregations, and they have approximately 80-100 members on the islands. The Catholic congregation comprises approximately 170 members. The municipality of Tórshavn operates their old Franciscan school. There are also around fifteen Bahá'í who meet at four different places. Unlike Iceland, there is no organized Ásatrú community.

The modern Frederik´s Church in Nes.

The best known church buildings in the Faroe Islands include St. Olafs Church and the unfinished 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.

In 1948 Victor Danielsen (Plymouth Brethren) completed the first Bible translation. It was translated into Faroese from different modern languages. Jacob Dahl and Osvald Viderø (Fólkakirkjan) completed the second translation in 1961. The latter was translated from the original languages into Faroese.

Culture

Technically, the phrase "Faroe Islands" is a pleonasm, since the suffixes øerne and oyar mean "islands" in Danish and Faroese, respectively. The Faroes have a culture very much their own, but it holds elements in common with Norway, Iceland, and Denmark.

The Faroese language, spoken by Faroese people, is most similar to Icelandic and Old Norse.

Ólavsøka

The national holiday, Ólavsøka, is on the 29th July, commemorating the death of Saint Olaf. Festivities commence on the evening of the 28th. On the 29th, the Faroese Parliament meets for a service in Tórshavn Cathedral prior to a special Parliamentary session. Celebrations are marked by rowing competitions (notably in Tórshavn harbour), art exhibitions, and the famous Faroese dance.

The Nordic House in the Faroe Islands

The Nordic House in the Faroe Islands in Tórshavn, August 2005.

The Nordic House in the Faroe Islands (in Faroese Norðurlandahúsið) is the most important cultural institution in the Faroes. Its aim is to support and promote Nordic and Faroese culture, locally and in the Nordic region. Erlendur Patursson (1913-1986), Faroese member of the Nordic Council, brought forward the idea of a Nordic cultural house in the Faroe Islands. 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. By staying true to folklore, the architects built the Nordic House to resemble an enchanting hill of elves. The building is considered one of the most beautiful in Scandinavia. The house opened in Tórshavn in 1983. The Nordic House is a cultural organization under the Nordic Council of Ministers. The Nordic House is run by a steering committee of 8, of which 3 are Faroese and 5 from the other Nordic countries. There is also a local advisory body of 15 members, representing Faroese cultural organizations. The House is managed by a director appointed by the steering committee for a four-year term.

Traditional food

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

Skerpikjot

Traditional Faroese food is mainly based on meat and potatoes and uses few fresh vegetables. 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. 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. 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 puffins, and their eggs.

Further information: Whaling in the Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands in popular culture

• In the book Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell, a floating fortress has been anchored between the Faroe Islands and Iceland on ca. 4 April 1984.
• The climax of John Buchan's novel The Isle of Sheep takes place on the Faroes.
• William R. Trotter's novel Warrener's Beastie is principally set in the Faroes.
• Susanna Kaysen's novel "Far Afield" involves the Faroes and takes place in part there.
• Laureate Dutch writer Bernlef situated his novel "Onder IJsbergen" in the Faroes.
• A portion of Clive Cussler's 2003 adventure novel "White Death" takes place in the Faroes.
• Mentioned in the song 'Why Should I Cry For You', by Sting: "North-north-west, the stones of Faroe".

Miscellaneous topics

  Faroese topics

Islands	Borðoy · Eysturoy · Fugloy · Hestur · Kalsoy · Koltur · Kunoy · Lítla Dímun · Mykines · Nólsoy · Sandoy · Skúvoy · Stóra Dímun · Streymoy · Suðuroy · Svínoy · Vágar · Viðoy
History	Timeline · Færeyinga Saga
Politics	Parliament · Folketing · Political parties
Geography	Geology · Mountains · Lakes · Transport
Economy	Economic history · Companies · Currency · Taxation
Demographics	Language · Religion · Cities · Towns
Culture	Art · Literature · Music · Cinema · Sport · Media · Whaling · Ólavsøka
Symbols	Merkið · Tú alfagra land mítt · Coat of arms

See also

• List of Notable Faroese
• University of the Faroe Islands
• Communications in the Faroe Islands
• British occupation of the Faroe Islands in World War II
• Faroe Islands national football (soccer) team
• Gøtudanskt
• Føroya Skótaráð
• Faroese people
• Faroese language conflict
• Whaling in the Faroe Islands

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.

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External links

• Prime Minister's Office - Official site
• Visit Faroe Islands - Official tourist site
• Framtak in the Faroe Islands - A comprehensive introduction to the Faroe Islands
• Photo-gallery of Faroe Islands - Around 200 photographs of the Faroese archipelago including Mykines, Vagar, Saksun and many more
• 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
• Faroephotos - Site with pictures of the Faroe Islands
• FaroeNature - Discussions and gallery relating to the Faroese nature

Islands of the Faroe Islands
Borðoy | Eysturoy | Fugloy | Hestur | Kalsoy | Koltur | Kunoy | Lítla Dímun | Mykines | Nólsoy | Sandoy | Skúvoy | Stóra Dímun | Streymoy | Suðuroy | Svínoy | Vágar | Viðoy

Nordic Council  (Nordic countries)
Denmark · Finland · Iceland · Norway · Sweden Associate members    Åland · Faroe Islands · Greenland

West Nordic Council
Faroe Islands •  Greenland •  Iceland

Countries and territories on the North Sea
Belgium •  Denmark •  England •  France •  Faroe Islands •  Germany •  Netherlands •  Norway •  Scotland

Countries on the Norwegian-Greenland-Barents Sea
Faroe Islands •  Greenland •  Iceland •  Norway •  Russia •  Scotland