Faroe << FAIR oh >> Islands, also spelled Faeroe and Foroyar, are a group of 18 islands and some reefs in the North Atlantic Ocean. They lie between Iceland and the Shetland Islands. The group has an area of 539 square miles (1,396 square kilometers) and a population of about 53,000. The major islands are Streymoy, Eysturoy, Vagar, Sudhuroy, and Sandoy.
The 687 miles (1,106 kilometers) of coastline are steep and deeply indented. Treacherous currents along the shores of the islands make navigation difficult. The islanders are a people of Norse origin who mainly fish and raise sheep. They also sell the eggs and feathers of the many sea birds that nest on the cliffs. Faroese, a language evolved from Old Norse, is the national language. English is also widely spoken.
Norway ruled over the Faroe Islands from the 800’s until 1380, when the islands came under the control of Denmark. British forces occupied the islands during World War II (1939-1945), but the civil government remained the same. In 1948, Denmark granted the Faroes self-government. The islanders have their own parliament, or Løgting, and send representatives to the Danish parliament in Copenhagen. The seat of government is Tórshavn on Streymoy.
