We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
WiseGEEK

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culture

What Should I Know About the Faroe Islands?

By Sheri Cyprus
Updated May 17, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGEEK is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGEEK, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

The Faroe Islands are eighteen islands located roughly between Iceland and Scotland in the North Atlantic Ocean and the Norwegian Sea in Northern Europe. The name of the Islands is derived from Føroyar which is the Danish word for "sheep," and raising sheep is a big industry here. The Faroe Islands are, for the most part, run independent of the Kingdom of Denmark except for its legal, foreign affairs and defense systems. The Faroes have its own prime minister and cabinet and the Nordic Council represents the Faroe Islands as included in the Danish delegation.

Irish hermit monks settled on the Faroe Islands in the sixth century and they farmed oats and raised sheep here. The Vikings took over the Islands in 650 AD and Norway ran the Faroes until 1380 when, under the Kalmar Union, Denmark took control. Denmark kept its control of the Faroe Islands through the Treaty of Kiel. After the Nazi invasion of Denmark, British troops occupied the Faroes in 1940 and the British Royal Engineers built an airport on the Faroe Islands by1943. The Danish ran the Faroes after the war, but the Faroes still retained much independence and unlike Denmark, the Faroe Islands chose not to join the European Union (EU).

Tórshavn is the Faroe's capital and its largest town. The "old town" area has hotels, cafes, quaint houses, shops and restaurants. The Tórshavn Playhouse features many different types of performing arts shows and the Nordic House also offers a wide range of cultural and theatrical productions. Many cruise ship lines are known to include the Faroe Islands as an excursion stop for tourists.

Faroese, a West Nordic language, is the first language of the Faroe Islands. Danish is its second language and is taught in the schools. English, other Nordic languages and European languages such as French and German are also spoken to some extent on the Faroe Islands.

The weather on the Faroes is fairly mild in the winters and summers. Winds and fog are quite consistent weather conditions here. The Vestmanna Seacliffs on the Faroes are known as bird cliffs as, beginning in the middle of August, numerous bird species migrate here and the cliffs are alive with the sight and sound of thousands of seabirds.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
See our Editorial Process Share Feedback

Related Articles

Discussion Comments

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.