Faroe Islands

Overview

The strong pastoral feeling throughout most of the islands allows the visitor to wander aimlessly or with a purpose in a setting that has not changed much for a great deal of time.

Often, in order to move between the islands, the Post Boats will have to be used. These are still the main method of delivering letters, which means that early on in a trip the traditional lifestyle can be experienced.

The natural world is interesting in terms of both the animate and inanimate. The world's largest storm petral colony on the island of Nólsoy. Many of the cliffs are home to thousands of birds, including those of Vestmanna and the island of Fugloy. The inanimate has a showing in the form of geological formations including sea stacks of basalt and otherwise, near Selatrað Stakhur, which has to be reached by a hoist and cage and grottoes on Hestur used for concerts and Sørvágsvatn with its waterfall into the sea. Lakes are also a common feature, particularly suitable for those keen on picturesque views.

The cultural side of the islands can be discovered through the museums of Norðoya Forn minis savn and Látrið the ruins a Kirkjubøur, Gota and Húsavík. The lifestyle can be investigated further in the farmsteads on the islands, the first Viking house at Hov or the capital, Tórshavn which seems to not have changed since the middle ages with its black- tarred house and turfed roofs.

History

The population of the Faroe Islands is largely descended from Viking settlers who arrived in the 9th century. The islands have been connected politically to Denmark since the 14th century. A high degree of self-government was attained in 1948.