Faeroe Islands History Infoplease
Faeroe Islands
Faeroe Islands or Faràe Islands (both: fÇr'ō) [key], Dan. F rØerne, Faeroese FØroyar, group of volcanic islands (2005 est. pop. 47,000), 540 sq mi (1,399 sq km), Denmark, in the N Atlantic, between Iceland and the Shetland Islands. There are 18 main islands and a few small, uninhabited islands. The largest islands are Streymoy, on which the group's capital, T€rshavn, is situated, and ?sterØ. The Faeroes are high and rugged and have only sparse vegetation. The climate is relatively mild because of the influence of the North Atlantic Drift; there are frequent storms and much fog.
The population is Scandinavian and almost totally Lutheran; they speak Faeroese (a Germanic language derived from Old Norse and related to Danish) and Danish. The inhabitants depend mainly on fishing and to a lesser extent on sheep raising, shipbuilding, and fish farming. Fish, animal feeds, and ships are exported. The chief fishing ports are V?gur, T€rshavn, and KlaksvÃg. The potential for petroleum production is being explored. The Faeroes are a self-governing overseas administrative division of Denmark. The nominal ruler is the Danish monarch, represented by a high commissioner. There is a 32-member unicameral parliament (the Lagting); the government is headed by a prime minister.
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