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Tucked away in what is, to many, the back of beyond, the Faroe Islands are a tiny Danish archipelago of some 18 inhabited islands lying in the North Atlantic Sea. The Faroes are, to put it mildly, inhospitable- foggy, windy and mostly treeless. There are few cities, or even towns, in the isles- Tórshavn is about the only place which can classify as a town of some proportions- and the rest is mainly wild, barren countryside with the odd village tucked away along the side of a mountain. Faroe Islands isn’t a place to see magnificent monuments or watch world class opera; but it’s a wild, beautiful area, and among the best places in Europe- or anywhere in the world, for that matter- to go bird watching. The Faroe Islands may not top many lists of `places to see’, but if you’re looking for a place to get away from it all, see some birds or some whales, trek a bit and relax- well, this is it.

The houses in the Faroe Islands blend in with the scenery – their roofs actually green grass and change colours with the season - brown in autumn, white in winter and a lush green in the summer. Interesting, wouldn’t you say? Faroese shawls have been world famous for their modishness. The shawls consist of two triangular side panels, one trapezoid, also known as the gusset and an edge treatment. The way these shawls are designed make them cling from shoulders and can also be tied around the waist. Lace knitting is a traditional handicraft of the people of the Faroe Islands.

Historically Speaking

The Faroe Islands remained uninhabited for a very long time, and it’s generally believed that the first settlers in the isles were Irish monks who came here during the 7th century. They were followed, about a century later, by the Vikings who swiftly made the Faroese part of their domain. Under the Vikings, the islands came to be governed by Norway, only to become a part of Denmark during the Protestant Reformation. Danish rule meant much welcome development for the islands, including considerable expansion in trade and commerce. By the end of the 19th century, the islands had acquired a reputation as one of the worlds’s best fishing grounds, and fishing is the economic activity which, even today, brings in most of the region’s income. Although still a part of Denmark, the Faroe Islands were declared a self-governing overseas administrative division in 1948, and enjoy a large degree of independence in local government.

Habitat

The Faroe Islands, a part of the country of Denmark, lie in the North Atlantic, approximately halfway between Iceland and Norway. Seventeen wind-swept isles in all, the Faroes have their origins in seismic activity, the results of which can still be seen in the highly desiccated coastline of the islands- fjords, sounds, inlets and cliffs galore. Further inland are moors and valleys, most of them very rugged. The climate of the Faroes is so very inhospitable that very little survives in the form of vegetation. Mosses, sedges, fungi, lichens and other lower forms of plant life are fairly common, but about the only trees you’ll find are in Tórshavn and other large towns, where they’re shielded by buildings. Most of the islands’ animal life consists of introduced species- sheep, cattle, rodents, rabbits and more, but what’s really impressive about the isles is the abundant birdlife. Close to a hundred species of birds, including skuas, oyster-catchers, puffins, razorbills, and more, inhabit the isles- in fact, the bird population of the Faroes is reputed to be the densest in the world. Other than that, the islands are known for the wealth of marine life in the surrounding waters- everything ranging from pilot whales, dolphins, killer whales and fin whales to smaller fish.