Geography of the Faroe Islands

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Faroe Islands on NASA satellite image.
Faroe Islands on NASA satellite image.

The Faroe Islands are an island group off the coast of Northern Europe, between the Norwegian Sea and the north Atlantic Ocean, about half-way between Iceland and Norway. Its coordinates are 62° N 7° W. It is 1,399 square kilometres in area, and includes no major lakes or rivers. There are 1,117 kilometres of coastline, and no land boundaries with any other country.

The Faroe Islands generally have cool summers and mild winters, with a usually overcast sky and frequent fog and strong winds. Although at a high latitude, due to the Gulf Stream, their climate is ameliorated. The islands are rugged and rocky with some low peaks; the coasts are mostly bordered by cliffs. The Faroe Islands are notable for having the highest sea cliffs in Europe, and some of the highest in the world otherwise. The lowest point is at sea level, and the highest is at Slættaratindur, which is 882 metres above sea level. The landscape made roadbuilding difficult, and only recently has this been remedied by building tunnels.

View of the west coast of Suðuroy.
View of the west coast of Suðuroy.

Many of the Faroese islands tend to be elongated in shape. Their appearance on a map has been likened by some to sliced bread.

Natural resources include fish, whales and hydropower.

Contents

[edit] Statistics

Location
Northern Europe, island group between Norway and Iceland in Atlantic Ocean, north of the United Kingdom.
Geographic coordinates
  • 62°00′N, 06°47′W
  • North: Enniberg, 62°29′,2 N
  • South: Sumbiarsteinur, 61°21′,6 N
  • West: Gáadrangur, 7°40′,1 W
  • East: Stapi, 6°21′,5 W
Area
  • Land: 1,393 km² [1]
  • Water: 0 km² (some lakes and streams)
Land boundaries
0 km
Coastline
1,117 km
Maritime claims
  • Continental shelf: 200 nautical miles (370 km) or agreed boundaries or median line
  • Exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles (370 km) or agreed boundaries or median line
  • Territorial sea: 12 nautical miles[2]
Climate
Subarctic oceanic climate (Koppen climate classification Cfc) moderated by North Atlantic Current; long, mild, windy winters; short, cool summers, damp in the South and West. Arctic climate (Koppen climate classification ET) in some mountains.
Terrain
Rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast. The coasts are deeply indented with fjords, and the narrow passages between islands are agitated by strong tidal currents.
Elevation extremes
Natural resources
Fish, Whales, hydropower, possible petroleum and gas.
Land use
  • Arable land: 2.14%
  • Permanent crops: 0%
  • Other: 97.86% (2001 est.)
Irrigated land
0 km²
Environment--international agreements
Marine Dumping
Geography--note
Archipelago of 17 inhabited islands and one uninhabited island, and a few uninhabited islets; strategically located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic; precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands.

[edit] See also

[edit] Further reading

  • Ostenfeld, C. H., and Eugenius Warming. Geography, Geology and Climate of the Faeröes, With the Historical Notes on the Botanical Investigation of These Islands. Copenhagen: H.H. Thiele, 1901.
  • Peacock, Martin A. Recent Lines of Fracture in the Færoes in Relation to the Theories of Fiord Formation in Northern Basaltic Plateaux. Glasgow: Jackson, Wylie, 1928.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Statistical Facts
  2. ^ Anordning nr. 240 frá 30. april 2002 om ikrafttræden for Færøerne af lov om afgrænsning af søterritoriet
  • "Faroe Islands" World Fact Book 2004, CIA, Washington.
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Italics indicates an unrecognised or partially recognised country. 1 Entirely in Southwest Asia.  2 Partially or entirely in Asia, depending on the border definitions.  3 / 4 / 5 / 6 Has part of its territory in Asia / North America / South America / Africa.  7 / 8 Entirely on the North American Plate / African Plate.