Faroe Islands. Faroe Islands - an island country in the North Atlantic

Holidays in the Faroe Islands 2019: how to get there, what to see and what to eat. Visa, accommodation and good hotels Faroe Islands.

Faroe islands Is a group of islands surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and located between Iceland and Scotland. The capital of the Faroe is the city of Torshavn, which is one of the smallest cities with the status of the main city of the state. The national currency is the Faroese krone. The Faroese archipelago includes 18 islands, people live on only 17 of them. The number of people living in the Faroes is almost 50,000.

The name of the archipelago comes from the Faroese word "Føroyar", which is translated into Russian as "Sheep Islands". Do not be surprised at this name, because there are much more sheep than people! If you climb into the depths of any of the islands, even there, among the rocks, there is a great opportunity to see a cute sheep.

How to get to the Faroe Islands

There are two options for getting to the Faroe Islands:

• The first is to fly on one of the planes the national Faroese airline Atlantic Airways. This is the only company that does regular flights to the Faroe Islands. The cheapest and most popular flight is from Copenhagen to Vagar. It takes place several times a day, the flight lasts about 2 hours. Also, the Faroe Islands can be reached from the UK and Norway. There are also flights from these countries to the Faroe Islands.

• The second option is to get there by water eg by ferry from Copenhagen. Such a trip will cost less than a plane ticket, but you should be prepared for the fact that the journey can take up to two days.

Faroe Islands visa - how to open

There are many legends about obtaining a visa for a trip to the Faroese archipelago, but in reality everything is much simpler. Yes, you will need a separate visa to travel to the Faroe Islands. But it is very easy to make it. The set of documents is no different from that required to obtain a Schengen visa. The visa application must be submitted at the consulate, if desired, you can also get the Danish Schengen. You will simply be made a note that with this visa you can freely visit the Faroe Islands.

Faroe Islands - accommodation and hotels

The most popular Faroe hotels are located on the largest islands of the archipelago, which include Vagar, Streimo and Estura. In the rest of the Faroe Islands, housing is much worse, but this problem can be easily solved.

On booking.com or the same roomguru.ru there are good hotels in the largest Faroe Islands, which can be booked in advance. What, by the way, will the Danish consulate expect from you before it opens a visa for you.

You can rent a hotel room on one of the main islands, and from there go on excursions to other parts of the archipelago. The road even to the most distant places will take only a few hours.

Which hotel to choose in the Faroe Islands?

You can go through all the offers on the Internet yourself, but to save time, we have found 6 accommodation options. Location, price, authenticity are our main criteria.

• Hotel Hafnia 4 *. it the best way accommodation in the center of Torshavn - the capital of the Faroe Islands. Oarvegur street, on which there is Hotel Hafnia- central in the city. To the port - 5 minutes. Modern rooms with comfortable beds, Scandinavian rich breakfasts in the restaurant overlooking the harbor. There is free parking. Note that the airport bus stop is right outside the hotel.

  Hotel Hafnia 4 stars, Torshavn central street

• Hotel Streym 3 *. This hotel is chicly located if you have a large excursion program in the Faroe Islands. It is located near the ferry terminal Torshavn - wall to wall 🙂 From here you can sail to any point in the archipelago. The hotel itself is a good "troika", with a plus. The rooms have everything, including heated floors and wi-fi.

  

  Hotel Streym 3 stars by the ferry line

• Hotel Vagar 3 *. This hotel is located in the village of Sørvagur, which is included in the list of attractions in the Faroe Islands. But the main advantage of the Vagar hotel is its location - just 2 minutes walk (!) To the airport. For this he is chosen. It's hard to find fault with the quality of the rooms and service - everything corresponds to 3 stars. This means a lot in Scandinavia!

  

  Faroe Islands - hotel in the airport area

• Hotel Tórshavn 3 *. This is an ordinary 3 star hotel, but we couldn't ignore it as it is located right on the Torshavn promenade. One of the most picturesque places in the capital! This is a bed & breakfast, here good restaurant where they even visit in the evenings locals.
• Guesthouse Hugo. Inexpensive guest house in the village of Servagur. There is an airport nearby. It is convenient to travel on excursions, especially if you rent a car on the islands. According to reviews, they are good hospitable hosts. But the main thing is the price!

  

  An inexpensive guest house is an alternative to a hotel

• Gjaargardur Guesthouse Gjogv 2 *. If you want a Scandinavian setting and the feeling that the Faroe Islands are a harsh north and stunning nature, then the village of Gjogv is best for you! A quality bed & breakfast with a moss roof and great reviews on booking.com - 8.7 points out of 150 reviews, 9.4 points for a super location.

  

  One of best hotels Faroe Islands in the bosom of nature!

Other housing options

Firstly, you can find an overnight stay in the farthest corners of the archipelago using the website of the island you want to go to. Various accommodation options for tourists are exhibited there. In this case, confirmation of the reservation will only be guaranteed by your verbal agreements with the hosts. This will require fluency in English and experience with local people.

Secondly, there is another option - to spend the night in a tent, but this is only possible in special places designed specifically for camping.

Transport in the Faroe Islands

This is a fairly straightforward task. All the islands of the archipelago are located next to each other, and the distances between the cities and attractions of the Faroes are very short. In addition, it is very well developed here. transport infrastructure... Buses run quite often, which can take you to almost everyone significant places... Tickets are inexpensive.

Ferry from Copenhagen to the capital Faroe

There is a ferry service between the islands. In the Faroes, this type of transport is not considered something special and is equated to regular buses. Therefore, ferries run regularly and tickets are cheap.

Another form of transport for moving around the archipelago is a helicopter. If you think it is expensive, you are wrong. It costs less to fly by helicopter from one island to another than to take a taxi to the airport. So this is a great opportunity to fly this type of transport at least once in your life. Just remember to book your seat for the helicopter in advance.

What and where to eat in the Faroes

If your route lies in some sparsely populated part of the Faroes, then it is better to take food with you. Of course, there are shops even on the outskirts, but they are open only a couple of hours a day. In larger settlements, you can easily buy something delicious in supermarkets or sit in local cafes. Well, in the capital, there will be no problems with food at all, restaurants and cafes are literally at every turn.

Capital of the Faroe Islands - Torshavn

So, where you can eat beautifully, tasty and inexpensively in the Faroe Islands:

• If you are in Torshavn, be sure to visit Koks Restaurant... People in the Faroes love and value nature very much. This connection can be felt even in such establishments. All dishes are prepared only from those products that grow in the archipelago or are mined in the ocean.

• If you want to sit in some cozy place, you can go to fish restaurant Barbara... It is located in the historic part of Torshavn. This is a place stylized as a traditional Faroese house, the roof of which is made of straw. The food here is always fresh, as it is made from fish caught on the same day.

Video tour of the Faroe Archipelago

Faroe Islands climate

Despite the fact that the Faroe Islands are located in the north, the local climate is distinguished by its mildness thanks to the Gulf Stream. average temperature in summer it keeps in the region of + 13º, it can rise up to + 20º. In winter, it stays above 0º, there are practically no frosts here. In the summer months, in these latitudes, you can observe the "white nights", and in the winter - the northern lights.

The positive features of the local climate end there. Most of the time it rains and blows cold winds in the Faroe Islands. So put a raincoat and quality waterproof boots in your suitcase. The weather is very changeable, it can change literally every few minutes. Although the temperature does not drop to minus in winter, it is still very cold here, since the air humidity is quite high. This is such a seemingly unfriendly climate in the Faroe Islands.

Where to stay

Faroe Islands translated from Faroese - "Sheep Islands". In English they are called Faroe Islands. They represent a separate island group and are not known to many tourists. Not everyone will immediately give an answer to the question of where the Faroe Islands are located on the world map. Nevertheless, they are of interest to travelers, as they are a corner of untouched nature and peace.

In contact with

classmates

Parliament and government of the Faroes

About the Faroe Islands, Wikipedia reports that they are located in the North Atlantic between Iceland and the Shetland Islands related to Scotland. It is impossible to give an unequivocal answer to the question of which country the Faroe Islands belong to. On the one hand, they are a part, on the other hand, since 1948, they independently solve almost all issues of state policy, except for foreign and defense.

The Faroes have their own legislature - parliament (Lögting), in which 6 political parties ... It has 33 members. And also the executive body - Landsstuyri and the only court. The Danish parliament has two representatives from the Faroes.

The Faroes, although related to Europe, are not part of the European Union. They are not an independent subject in terms of international law and sign treaties together with Denmark. Representatives of individual parties are in favor of the complete independence of the Faroes from Denmark.

Capital, population

The main port of the Faroe Islands, Torshavn is the capital of the country. It is located on the Stremoy Island (area 373.5 square kilometers), in its southeastern part. The capital is home to about 20 thousand people.

The entire population of the country has about 50 thousand people... The main one is Faroese, the overwhelming majority of the inhabitants are Faroese (about 90%). They are followed by the Danes, Icelanders and the British. Surprisingly, Russians also live here. In 2011, there were 55 of them.

Culture, traditions Faroe Islands

The main religion is Lutheranism, but there are also Christians. There are many architecturally interesting churches from the Middle Ages.

The island's distinctive culture - literature, music, dance - is based on closely intertwined local and Danish traditions. Folklore and jazz festivals are often held in the Faroes.

Oulavsøka

The main holiday is Oulavsøka, which takes place on July 28-29... It is named after Olaf, the saint who introduced Christianity to Norway.

The festival program includes:

Slaughtering grind

An integral part of the social culture of the Faroes is the slaughter of grind - black dolphins. Mostly this event takes place in the summer, is not of a commercial nature and is organized by the communities. Anyone can take part in it, but mostly men do it, and women just watch.

This craft has historical roots. It is due to the fact that due to the climatic conditions on the islands, vegetables and grains grow poorly, therefore, for the survival of the population for centuries you need meat and fat, including grind... About 950 heads are mined annually, which gives 500 tons of meat and fat and makes up 30% of the total amount of meat products produced on the islands. These products are not exported, not sold in stores, they are consumed by families.

The fishery has faced criticism as well as radical action by animal rights and marine life groups. They see him as cruel and unnecessary. At the same time, local whalers talk about its economic importance.

Butterfly shawls

Sheep breeding is developed in the Faroes. They are also famous for the fact that knitting of shawls from the wool of local sheep by hand is widespread here. These products differ from other types of shawls and scarves in a very unusual shape, similar to the shape of a butterfly. This design is of practical importance. Thanks to her, the shawl remains on the shoulders during movement, even if it is not tied.

Faroe Islands climate

Wikipedia says that the climate in the Faroes is maritime temperate. The winters are warm and the summers are cool and humid. The warmest month is July with a temperature of 0–4 ° C, and the coldest month is January with a temperature of 11–17 ° C. Up to 2 thousand mm of precipitation falls annually... Basically it rains, which are about 9 months a year from September to January, fogs are frequent on the islands.

The archipelago is washed by the Gulf Stream - a warm sea current, due to which the coastal waters have a temperature of + 10 ° C throughout the year. This factor significantly softens the climate and contributes to the creation of optimal living conditions for marine life, including fish and plankton.

Faroe Islands geography

All Faroe Islands are 1395.74 sq. kilometers.

They are at a distance:

• to Copenhagen - 1117 km;
• to - 675 km;
• to Iceland - 450 km.

In total, the Faroe Islands archipelago consists of 18 large islands, a large number of small and detached rocks. The largest from the group of northern islands is Boroy, which is densely populated (about 5 thousand people), and has an area of ​​95 sq. kilometers. It is home to the second largest city in the Faroe Islands - Klaksvik.

The island of Esturoy has the most high point Faroe - Slattaratindur peak, which is 882 meters above sea level. There are fjords along all the islands so their coastline heavily indented. Basically, the land surface is rocky, consisting of basalt. Here high slopes alternate with plateaus. They are separated by gorges of great depth.

Fauna and flora of the Faroe Islands

Because of strong winds, which blow constantly, there are few forests here. But strong conifers, maple and ash still grow, and lichens and moss, heather are also very common.

The fauna of the Faroe Islands is represented by large colonies of arctic birds - guillemot, harp seal rookeries and it is also rich in fish - cod, herring, halibut.

It is home to a breed of sheep called the Faroese, hence the name of the island. Sheep of this breed appeared in the 9th century and became an integral part of the local tradition. Their image is on the coat of arms of the Faroes. Basically, the breed is grown for meat, but, as mentioned above, wool is used for the production of shawls.

Faroe Islands history facts

• Until the XIV century, the Faroe Islands belonged to Norway, then Norway and Denmark owned them jointly. And from 1814 the islands became Danish. Their inhabitants come from the Scandinavian peoples, and the language - from the old Norwegian dialects.
• During World War II, the Faroes were taken under the military control of Great Britain. It happened in 1940 after the invasion of Nazi troops in Denmark. After that, the island's elective body, Logting, achieved the authority to pass laws, and the flag of the Faroe Islands received official recognition. In September 1945, the occupation regime was lifted.
• In 1946, a vote was taken among the island population, as a result of which the parliament announced its withdrawal from the Danish Kingdom. However, the Danish government did not recognize this decision and temporarily suspended the work of the Faroese parliament. As a result of the parliamentary struggle in April 1948, an agreement was signed, according to which the islands were given sovereignty, with restrictions on the conduct of foreign policy. The local parliament elected two delegates to the Danish parliament.
• In 1984, the Faroe Islands were declared a nuclear-weapon-free zone. Today it houses a NATO radar complex and a Danish naval base.

Transport in the Faroe Islands

There is a marine, automobile transport and aviation with one airport - Vagar.

Aviation

National Air Carrier - Atlantic Airways operates a regular service with:

• Norway - Stavanger and Oslo;
• Denmark - Billun, Aalborg, Copenhagen;
• Iceland -;
• Great Britain - London, Aberdeen, Shetland.

Helicopter service is available on a regular basis between Torshavn and the remote islands with a small population.

Sea traffic

Due to its island location, the main mode of transport is sea transport. Ferries run between the islands. The national shipping company is Smyril Line. The marine terminal is located in Torshavn.

Road transport

There are about 500 kilometers on the islands. highways... Most of them are mountain serpentine. Large tunnels have been built here since the second half of the 20th century. that connect separate settlements with each other. The longest automobile tunnel is the Norjoya tunnel.

How to get to the Faroe Islands

It is best to get to the Faroe Islands by plane to the capital Torshavn with a transfer:

• via Denmark from Copenhagen or
• via Norway from Bergen or Stavanger.

In summer, from Bergen, Norway, you can get to Torshavn by ferry.

Note! In order to get to the Faroe Islands, Russian citizens will need, which is issued by the Danish embassy in the consular department. It must be marked "valid for the Faroes".

Faroe Islands capital landmarks

The city of Torshavn was founded in the 10th century and is named after the god of thunder and lightning - Thor. Torshavn is a picturesque and thriving city. It is unlike other capitals. Its dignity is not magnificent buildings, but the untouched surrounding nature of amazing beauty and a sense of solitude and tranquility.

Here it is Main Cathedral , which, like most of the temples on the islands, belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran Church. It was built in 1788 and then rebuilt. It became the cathedral and residence of the bishop in 1990. It has preserved such unique items as a baptismal font dating back to the end of the 16th century and a crucifixion from the beginning of the 18th century.

And also in the capital there is a Lutheran Western church... It is 40.5 meters high and is the tallest building in the entire archipelago. The year of its construction is 1975. The base of the church building is made of basalt rock, on which is a pyramid-shaped dome made of glass and copper. In front of the entrance to the church, there is a monument to Sigmundur Brestisson, who began the Christianization of the population of the islands, for which he was killed in 1005.

You should also pay attention to the ancient monastery Munkastovan, built in the 15th century and surrounded by stone walls. It has been completely preserved despite a fire in the 17th century.

The main attraction of the capital is also the main island Historical Museum... It presents examples of applied art, religious objects, rural household items, household utensils that have survived since the time of the Vikings. And also - accessories for sea fishing: fishing tackle, navigational tools and models of ships.

The main cultural center of Torshavn is House of the Nordic Countries... Its roof is covered with peat. It contains: concert hall, conference room, art gallery, library. Here on summer nights, events are held, the so-called Faroese evenings for tourists.

Faroe Islands landmarks

The most mountainous of all islands Faroe is Kalsa... Its western shore is solid, steep cliffs. There are four small settlements on the island, which are connected with each other through a system of tunnels. There are many caves and underground galleries, for which Kalsoy is also called Flute, that is, "flute". In the north of the island is the Katlur lighthouse, near which you can see picturesque cliffs and a naturally formed sea arch.

To the north of the village of Skarvanes there is a sea rock of the original form Trötlconufingur which means "Finger of a Troll Woman". It really looks like a graceful long finger.

The least mountainous of the Faroe Islands is Sandoy, on which the sand dunes are located. There are two lakes with clear water here. The guillemot colony settled in the west. There is a church on the island. The view of Sandoy is depicted on the 1,000 kronor banknote for the Faroe Islands.

On the island Fugloy, or Bird Island, there are cliffs ranging in height from 450 to 620 meters. They descend from plateaus located on picturesque mountain ranges, and are completely covered with a carpet of arctic grasses and mosses. These cliffs are home to many millions of seabird colonies.

The Faroe Islands are located in the North Atlantic, in open ocean, significantly north of Scotland. Officially they belong to Denmark, but in fact life in the Faroe Islands is subject not so much to the Danish crown as to its own laws and rules. Tourists are not expected here by azure waters, luxury hotels and well-trained bartenders serving colorful cocktails to vacationers on the beach. The nearest inhabited coast is Icelandic, and it is located 450 km. But if you are looking for a place to get away from everything, then the Faroe Islands are the best place for it.

In one of its publications, National Geografic magazine named the Faroes the most the best islands in the world. It seems that even their residents themselves more than agree with this description.

How to get to the Faroe Islands

By plane to Torshavn with a transfer via Denmark (Copenhagen) or Norway (Bergen or Stavanger). The most popular local transport in the Faroes is, of course, water, and you need to travel between the islands by ferry. V summer time From Bergen to Torshavn you can also take a ferry.

Visa

The Faroe Islands are not part of the Schengen area. To visit these territories, you need to obtain a national Danish visa, valid to enter the Faroe Islands, in addition to the regular Danish Schengen visa. If the tourist already has a valid Schengen of another country, it is enough to apply for a national Danish visa with a note of entry to the Faroe Islands. List required documents and the process for obtaining a Faroese visa is identical to the process for obtaining a Schengen visa to Denmark.

Search for flights to Copenhagen (closest airport to the Faroe Islands)

A bit of history

In total, the Faroe Islands include 18 islands, and people live on all, except for the last, Small Dimun. The first inhabitants appeared on the islands around the 8-9 centuries; then the islands saw the Vikings and for some time served as a staging post on their sea expeditions. The Faroes were once divided between Norway and Denmark, but at the beginning of the 19th century they were completely taken over by the Danes. During World War II, the islands were occupied by Great Britain in response to the capture of Denmark by the Germans (this did not affect the course of the war in any way). The next year after the end of the war, the Faroe Islands were about to secede from the Danish kingdom, but that was not the case: the maximum that the islanders achieved was partial sovereignty.

In one of its publications, National Geografic magazine named the Faroes the best islands in the world (this is a consolidated expert assessment of half a thousand specialists in the tourism sector). It seems that even their residents themselves more than agree with this description. Despite the fact that the economy of the islands is supported, figuratively speaking, on sheep and herring, the weather is gloomy, and fuel and other essential items have to be purchased on the mainland for half a thousand kilometers, the standard of living in the Faroes is one of the highest in the world. And almost all the islanders are ardent patriots, who optimistically paint their houses in different colors in spite of gloomy weather and gray skies.

Due to unacceptable taxes on fishing for local residents, the Faroes have not yet entered the European Union.

Faroese cuisine

The traditional Faroese dishes, dense and simple, are all quite curious, but in modern terms they cannot be called healthy. Although local dishes are often prepared from fish for obvious reasons, the Faroese themselves prefer fatty and unsalted meat, in particular lamb, and potatoes from vegetables. However, in recent years, more and more European establishments are opening in large settlements. So you need to look specifically for traditional restaurants in order to try smurrebrod for breakfast (a sandwich with butter and meat, which is eaten with cutlery), for lunch - a soup of dried cod and lamb kidney, and for dinner - a pie with puffin meat, rhubarb and potatoes.

Weather in the Faroe Islands

The climate here is not mild: in summer it is usually not warmer than +15 ° C, it rains for about 280 days a year, and the winds blow almost constantly. Therefore, there are few trees on the islands - solid rocks and moss, but there are a lot of picturesque carved fjords, bays, bays and mountains.

In winter, the islands are very wet and specifically cold. But the Gulf Stream washing them does not allow coastal waters to freeze and even maintains their temperature at about + 10 ° C. This season, when there are no people around, and the water is especially clear, is considered ideal for diving enthusiasts.

3 things to do in the Faroe Islands:

1. Buy and bring home to my grandmother some skeins of local first-class lamb's wool for knitting. You can do this at almost any grocery store.
2. Get to the town of Skopun on Sandoy Island, where the largest mailbox in the world is located. This is a huge blue building of several human heights, against the background of which it is imperative to take a picture (alas, the box is non-functional).
3. Taste local meat and fish dried and dried snacks: whale meat and lamb are dried in the Faroes in a dozen different ways, sometimes every year.

Faroe Islands entertainment and attractions

The main town of the Faroes is Torshavn on Streimoy Island, and it is quite picturesque and specific. But, of course, those who go to the Faroe Islands do not come to see the city sights. The main thing for which people come to the Faroes is the amazing nature, solitude and the feeling that you are on the edge of the earth.

Torshavn

The capital of the islands, Torshavne, has a mixed atmosphere: partly port, partly metropolitan, partly even some kind of rural. It is worth visiting, first of all, the ancient monastery Munkastovan, built in the 15th century and surrounded by a stone wall. In the 17th century, a large fire raged in the city, but the monastery escaped destruction. Also of interest is the main museum on the islands - the historical one, where various examples of applied art and cult, traditional household utensils and household items of villagers, fishermen and sailors are collected. Main Cultural Center Torshavna - House of the Nordic countries, where a conference hall, concert hall, library and art gallery are open. On summer nights, special orientation events for tourists are organized here.

Faroe Islands: Fugloy, Kalsoy, Sandoy

Faroe sights are each island individually, each with its own special nature, pretty rural houses under colorful roofs (and often covered with sod and grass), coastal cliffs in a foggy haze. In some you will find old Lutheran churches, in the majority - numerous flocks of sheep in green meadows, and in all - the cleanest air and cold blue skies, not polluted by industrial enterprises, which are not here.

Many of the islands have earned special fame due to the peculiarities of the landscape, climate, flora or fauna. For example, on the island of Fugloy ("Bird Island"), sea birds nest in huge numbers. Here, high, more than half a kilometer cliffs, chosen by millions of birds, crash into the water. Even more mountainous Kalsoy ("Pipe Island") is surprising, nevertheless, not for its mountains, but quite the opposite - for underground passages and caves. And the “flattest” of all Sandoi is famous for others: here you can admire wide sand dunes near the coast, and two beautiful lakes are located on a hill.

Faroe islands

Leisure

The island of Vioi is home to one of the tallest cliffs in Europe, Anniberg, which climbers have tried unsuccessfully to conquer for decades. And north of Skarvanes, on the Kalsoy island, the cape ends with a sharp protruding prong - Trötlkonufingur, "The finger of the troll." Amateur anglers should go to Streimoy Island, where the most fertile lake Pollur is located in terms of fishing: there you can fish not only commonplace salmon, but also large halibuts and eels. The island of Vagar is famous for the Slave rock with a lake located high in the mountains: the water from it spills over a rocky cliff near the village of Gasadapur and falls right into the ocean, and together with a rocky ridge in the background and a village on the average, all this is such a sight that will certainly be worth see. And on the island of Nolsoy there are large seal rookeries - also an incredible picture.

Vagar Island is famous for the Slave Rock with a lake located high in the mountains: water from it spills over a rocky cliff near the village of Gasadapur and falls right into the ocean.

Culture and customs of the Faroe Islands

The Faroe Islands' own culture developed far from European civilization and therefore has largely retained its exclusivity to this day. It's a whimsical interweaving of Danish and own cultural heritage which is well reflected by local folk festivals. For example, Faroese round dances are a very special phenomenon, without which no entertainment event can do. You can see them, for example, at the festival of St. Olaf (Oulavsøk), who once baptized Norway, at the end of July, as well as at traditional rowing competitions between villages, equestrian competitions, and painting exhibitions. Oulavsøka embraces all the islands with merriment, but other festivals take place in some parts of the archipelago throughout the year - Vestanstevna in July in the west, Noriastevna in the north, Jouansøka in the south.

One of the specific traditions of the islanders, which causes at least a double attitude among the guests of the Faroe Islands, is the summer whale slaughter.

Whaling

For more than a millennium, the inhabitants of the Faroes have been largely fed by the whaling industry. Having found a flock of whales (or rather, dolphins) that have entered the bay, they are surrounded by boats, driven to the shore, and there, in the literal sense of the word, they are stabbed with knives, which is why all the water near the shore changes color. The tradition arouses indignation among animal rights activists, but it is as characteristic of the local culture as round dances, and at the same time much more urgent for the region, whose only sources of income are in fact fishing, sheep breeding and agriculture. Whale meat, a traditional and very popular dish on the islands, is neither exported nor sold: it is eaten by the miners themselves, as in prehistoric times.

Received closer to the middle of the XI century, when the islands came under the jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Norway, under the influence of which the culture and history of the Faroe Islands... In particular, the same Faroese language, even in its modern form, is a direct descendant of the Old Norwegian language and belongs to one of its dialects, which is still spoken by most of the Faroese today.

However, the position of the islands, as a kind of enclave of either Denmark or Norway, was finally suspended as a result of the decision of the Danish government, to grant the islands the legal status of a self-governing territory with full socio-political independence in all matters except foreign policy and defense issues. And from that moment, from April 1, 1948, capital of the Faroe Islands was founded in one of the largest cities on the island of Streima, the city of Thorshavn.

The geography of the Faroe Islands is so arranged that only a few of the eighteen that make up the archipelago have sufficient area and conditions for agriculture and industrial production. Which, in turn, determined the fact that the bulk of the forty-eight thousandth population of this island nation, lives on the most large islands archipelago. At the same time, as noted by recent sociological studies, population of the Faroe Islands in recent years, it has developed into a rather homogeneous national structure. So, in particular, according to the 2011 census, more than 90% of the population is made up of the indigenous inhabitants of these islands - the Faroese, leaving less than 10% to the share of immigrants from the rest of the Scandinavian countries.

After State of the Faroe Islands, received quite a certain independence, administrative governing bodies and representatives of national authorities began to form on the islands. Based on this, the central executive power in the Faroes belongs to the Government, whose composition is approved by Parliament. He is re-elected every five years in a general election, in which the island nation's five main political parties have been competing for years. At the same time, local self-government of the islands is limited by the presence of six main regions (sisles) and 34 smaller territorial communes. At the same time, the supremacy of the executive power in these structures belongs to the civil elders, some of whom are elected by the citizens themselves, and some are appointed from the capital of the Faroe Islands.

Having received on April 1, 1948, quite definite political and economic independence, history The Faroe Islands went on a new round - the politically active part of the population of the Faroe Islands began to form the political structure of this small island state. With this in mind Ferrer Islands politics for many years it has been determined by the activities of the seven main political parties, which have their representatives, both in the Parliament of the state and in its government. The main such political forces today include the People's Party (Folkaflokkurin), the Republican Party (Cheveldi) and the Social Democratic Party (Yavnaarflokkurin), the parties with the largest number of representatives in the Faroese Parliament.

The language of the Faroe Islands

Given the fact that a significant part of the population of the Faroe Islands are indigenous Faroese, whose history goes back to the peoples Northern Norway, then this kind of state of affairs has imposed on the existing language environment. So, in particular, Faroese is the main one, as a rather ancient branch of one of the dialects of the Old Norse language. But under the influence of time and assimilation among the Faroese immigrants from other Scandinavian countries, today the same English and Danish languages ​​are increasingly found in everyday life and in official speech. It is by this the culture Faroe Islands are no longer very different from the linguistic structure of their neighbors.

For a very long time, the Faroe Islands will eventually appear on the screen.

An absolutely magical place.

An utterly magical place.

Mailboxes in homes are reminiscent of old school bags.

The shape of residential mailboxes resembles that of old Soviet school satchels.

Blue mailbox for sending letters (like in Denmark).

Each car has a dial with an arrow on the glass (to indicate the parking time, as in Italy).

Every car has a clock dial with one hand on its windshield (to mark the time the car was parked, same as in Italy).

Car number.

A license plate.

There are two types of trash cans. One type - with a mesh cage around the bag - like a city trash can in Bologna.

There are two types of garbage cans here. The first, a mesh cage with a bag inside, is similar to the municipal trash cans in Bologna.

Another type, more common, is a wooden box with a metal lid.

The second and more common type is a wooden box with a metal lid.

All outlets in the country are equipped with switches. It may seem that these are overhead light switches. But no, these are outlet switches.

All the power outlets in the country are equipped with on / off switches. One might think at first that these are light switches. But no, they’re actually power outlet switches.

You can pay for absolutely everything with a credit card. The seller does not take the card in his hands, the buyer must roll it himself, then dialing the pincode.

You can pay for anything and everything with a card. The cashier never touches the card — the customer must swipe it himself and then enter his PIN.

The Faroese tomb should be decorated with a plaster dove, symbolizing sorrow.

In the Faroes, a proper tombstone must be decorated with a plaster dove, which symbolizes mourning.

Torshavn

Tórshavn

World Map Map

Trash can on the highway.

A trash can on the highway.

An ordinary urn.

A regular trash can.

A trash can, above which a dispenser with bags for cleaning dog shit hangs.

A trash can with a dog poop bag dispenser on top.

Crosswalk.

A pedestrian crossing.

Street signs are mounted on complex pipes.

Street name signs are mounted on complex pipes.

In case of icy conditions, chests with sand are placed along the roads (the model is exactly like in Vilnius).

Bins with sand are placed along the roads in case of ice (the type of bin is identical to the one in Vilnius).

At the pedestrian crossing sign, the post is decorated with an additional reflective stick with white and blue.

The posts supporting pedestrian crossing signs are additionally marked with blue and white reflective sticks.

And at the sign "Children" - a white-red stick. Reminiscent of the pillars at the signs in Faro.

The “Children” sign, meanwhile, has a red and white post. It resembles the traffic sign posts in Faro.

Half of the traffic lights in the country fit into one photo.

Half the traffic lights which exist in the country fit into this one photo.

Bus schedule.

Bus stop.

The buses in the capital are electric and with a hump (somewhat reminiscent of Cuba).

The buses in the capital are all electric and have a hump (they bring Cuban buses to mind).

Capital bum.

A homeless man in the city.

A manhole cover.

Dormitory area.

Scopun

Skopun

World Map Map

Most of the Faroe Islands are connected by bridges or underground tunnels. You need to take a ferry here.

Most of the Faroe Islands are connected to one another with bridges or underground tunnels. To get here, however, one must take a ferry.

The largest post office box in the world is located here. I signed a bunch of postcards on the ferry especially for him. Imagine my disappointment when it turned out that there was no slot for letters in this box. Generally. Walked around from all sides - it's just a non-functional monument to the Faroese mailbox. And, still old, before the rebranding of the mail.

This is where the largest post box in the world is located. I wrote a bunch of postcards on the ferry specifically for the occasion. Imagine my disappointment when I discovered that this post box has no slot for mail. At all. I went all the way around to check — it’s just a dummy monument commemorating the Faroes post box. And the old one at that — the postal service has since undergone a rebranding.

The world remembers the Faroes once a year - when the locals notice a flock of whales, drive them into the bay and kill them. Greens scream like cut, activists are energized on long terms, bloggers have been sharing whale pics links for a week. Then everyone is forgotten, and the Faroes continue to live their own lives.

The world is reminded of the Faroes ’existence once a year — when local residents spot a pod of whales, chase them into the bay and slaughter them. Environmentalists scream bloody murder, activists receive a fresh, long-lasting boost of energy, bloggers share links to photos of the whales for an entire week. Then everyone forgets, and the Faroes go on with their life.

They will outlive us all.

They will yet outlast us all.