The Faroe Islands are located in the north of the Atlantic, in the 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 waiting here for azure waters, chic 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 escape from everything, then the Faroe Islands are the perfect place for this.
In one of its publications, National Geographic magazine called the Faroe Islands the most the best islands in the world. It seems that even their inhabitants themselves more than agree with this characterization.
How to get to the Faroe Islands
By plane to Torshavn with a transfer through Denmark (Copenhagen) or Norway (Bergen or Stavanger). The most popular local transport in the Faroe Islands is, of course, water, and you need to travel between the islands by ferry. In the summer, you can also take a ferry from Bergen to Tórshavn.
Visa
The Faroe Islands are not part of the Schengen area. To visit these territories, it is necessary to obtain a national Danish visa, valid for entry into the Faroe Islands, in addition to the regular Danish Schengen visa. If the tourist already has a valid Schengen visa of another country, it is enough to apply for a national Danish visa with a note about entering the Faroe Islands. The list of required documents and the process of obtaining a visa to the Faroe Islands is identical to the process of obtaining a Schengen visa to Denmark.
Search for flights to Copenhagen (nearest airport to Faroe Islands)
A bit of history
In total, the Faroe Islands include 18 islands, and people live on all but the last, Small Dimun. The first inhabitants appeared on the islands around the 8th-9th centuries; then the islands saw the Vikings and for some time served as a staging post in their sea expeditions. Once the Faroe Islands were divided between Norway and Denmark, but at the beginning of the 19th century they were completely taken over by the Danes. During the Second World War, 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 Kingdom of Denmark, but it was not there: the maximum that the islanders achieved was partial sovereignty.
In one of its publications, National Geographic magazine named the Faroe Islands the best islands in the world (this is a consolidated expert assessment of half a thousand specialists in the tourism industry). It seems that even their inhabitants themselves more than agree with this characterization. Despite the fact that the economy of the islands rests, figuratively speaking, on sheep and herring, the weather is gloomy, and fuel and other essential items have to be purchased on the mainland for five hundred kilometers, the standard of living in the Faroe Islands 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 fishing taxes for local residents, the Faroe Islands have not yet entered the European Union.
Faroese cuisine
The traditional dishes of the Faroes, dense and simple, are all rather curious, but by modern standards they cannot be called healthy. Although local dishes, for obvious reasons, are often prepared from fish, the Faroese themselves prefer fatty and unsalted meat, in particular lamb, and potatoes from vegetables. However, more and more European establishments have recently been opened in large settlements. So you need to look specifically for traditional restaurants to try smorrebrod for breakfast (a sandwich with butter and meat eaten with cutlery), for lunch - dried cod and mutton kidney soup, and for dinner - puffin meat pie, rhubarb and potatoes.
Weather in the Faroe Islands
The climate here cannot be called mild: in summer it usually does not get warmer than +15 ° C, it rains 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 carved picturesque fjords, bays, bays and mountains.
In winter, the islands are very wet and particularly 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:
- Buy and bring home to your grandmother a few hanks of local first-class sheep's wool for knitting. This can be done in almost any grocery store.
- Get to the town of Skopun on the island of Sandoy, where the largest mailbox in the world is located. This is a huge blue building of several human heights, against which you should definitely take a picture (alas, the box is non-functional).
- Try local meat and fish dried-cured snacks: whale meat and lamb in the Faroe Islands are dried in a dozen different ways, sometimes for a year.
Entertainment and attractions of the Faroe Islands
The main city of the Faroe Islands is Torshavn on the island of Streymoy, and it is quite picturesque and specific. But, of course, those who travel to the Faroe Islands do not come for city sightseeing. The main thing for which people come to the Faroe Islands is the amazing nature, solitude and the feeling that you are on the edge of the earth.
Torshavn
The capital of the islands, Tórshavn, has a mixed atmosphere: part port, part metropolitan, part even some kind of rural. Here it is worth visiting, first of all, the ancient Munkastovan Monastery, built in the 15th century and surrounded by a stone wall. In the 17th century, a major fire raged in the city, but the monastery escaped destruction. The main museum on the islands is also curious - the historical one, which contains a variety of examples of applied art and worship, traditional household utensils and household items of villagers, fishermen and sailors. Main Cultural Center Tórshavna - House of the Nordic countries, where a conference hall, a concert hall, a library and an art gallery are open. On summer nights, special introductory events for tourists are organized here.
Faroe Islands: Fugloy, Kalsoy, Sandoy
Attractions Faroe Islands is each island separately, each with its own special nature, pretty rural houses under colorful roofs (and often covered with turf and grass), coastal cliffs in a foggy haze. On some you will find old Lutheran churches, on most - numerous flocks of sheep in green meadows, and on all - the purest 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. So, for example, on the island of Fugloy (“Bird Island”), sea birds nest in huge numbers. Here, high, more than half a kilometer cliffs, favored by millions of birds, crash into the water. The even more mountainous Kalsoy (“pipe-island”) is surprising, however, not with mountains, but quite the contrary - with underground passages and caves. And the most “flat” of all Sandoy is famous for others: here you can admire the wide sand dunes, and on a hill there are two beautiful lakes.
Faroe islands
Leisure
On the island of Vioy is one of the highest cliffs in Europe, Enniberg, which climbers have been unsuccessfully trying to conquer for many decades. And to the north of Skarvanes, on the island of Kalsoy, the cape ends with a sharp prong sticking up - Tretlkonufingur, "Troll's Finger". Amateur fishermen should go to the island of Streymoy, where the most fertile lake Pollur is located in terms of fishing: there you can fish not only banal salmon, but also large halibut and eels. Vagar Island 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 breaks straight into the ocean, and together with a rocky ridge in the background and a village in the middle, all this is such a sight that is certainly 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 overflows over a rocky cliff near the village of Gasadapur and breaks straight into the ocean.
Culture and customs of the Faroe Islands
The own culture of the Faroe Islands developed far from European civilization and therefore has largely retained its exclusivity to this day. This is a bizarre interweaving of Danish and its own cultural heritage, which is well reflected in local folk festivals. For example, Faroese round dances are a very special phenomenon, without which not a single entertainment event can do. You can look at them, for example, at the festival of St. Olaf (Oulafsek), who once baptized Norway, at the end of July, as well as at traditional rowing competitions between villages, horse competitions, and painting exhibitions. Oulavsjoka embraces all the islands with fun, without exception, but other parts of the archipelago also host other festivals throughout the year - July Vestanstevna in the west, Noriyastevna in the north, Jouansjoka in the south.
One of the specific traditions of the islanders, which causes at least an ambivalent attitude among the guests of the Faroes, is the summer slaughter of whales.
Whaling
For more than a millennium, the inhabitants of the Faroe Islands have been fed to a fair extent by whaling. 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 slaughtered with knives, which is why all the water near the shore changes color. The tradition is resented by 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 favorite dish on the islands - is neither exported nor sold: it is eaten by the miners themselves, as in prehistoric times.
The Faroe Islands is a little-known archipelago located in the north Atlantic in the Norwegian Sea, approximately between Iceland and the Scottish Isles.
The archipelago includes 18 islands of volcanic origin, with a total area of 1399 m². The main islands are: Streymoy, Esturoy, Suduroy, Voar, Sanda, Borda.
Officially, the Faroe Islands belong to Denmark, but they are autonomously governed (with the exception of matters relating to defense and foreign policy). The capital of the archipelago is located on the island of Streymoy - this is the city of Torshavn.
The results of the last census, conducted in 2016, showed that more than 49,000 people live in the Faroe Islands. About 20,000 people live in the capital of the Faroe Islands and its suburbs, in the second largest city of Klaksvik, there are almost 5,000 inhabitants. Only 1 person permanently lives on the island of Koltur, and 1 island is completely uninhabited.
The Faroese, considered the descendants of the first settlers, make up approximately 92% of the total population of the islands. Another 6% identify themselves as Danes.
The bulk of the inhabitants of the autonomy speaks a rare Faroese language (mixed West Scandinavian dialects), although Danish is recognized as the official language.
Attractions of the Faroe Islands
People who have not lost the ability to be surprised and impressed will not be bored in the Faroe Islands. The main reason why people go to these islands is the feeling that they have been to the end of the world. And the amazing fantastic landscapes that the Faroe Islands are rich in help to feel this: lakes hanging over the ocean, numerous fjords, mysterious gorges, noisy waterfalls, coastal cliffs covered with misty haze. Each island of the Faroes is unique and can be considered a separate natural attraction.
But in the Faroe Islands you can not only admire nature, there are also city attractions. For example, the rather picturesque and specific city of Torshavn definitely deserves attention.
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Island cuisine - what do the Faroese eat?
Smørrebrod The national dishes of the Faroe Islands are to some extent a reflection of the harsh local climate. They are simple, dense, quite interesting, but they can hardly be called healthy.
The Faroese often cook dishes from fish, but they prefer fatty and unsalted meat, as well as potatoes. Popular are smorrebrods, huge sandwiches with a lot of ingredients (meat, fish, butter, etc.) that are eaten with a knife and fork.
Rustkyot They love here rastkyot - small pieces of lamb, which were dried in the wind for 6-9 months. Fish is also usually dried, then various dishes are prepared from it, for example, soups. Small puffin birds live on the islands - their meat, along with rhubarb and potatoes, is used to stuff pies, and whole carcasses are stuffed with sweet dough and served with berries and potatoes. The Faroe Islands are very fond of whale meat - it is harvested during the fisheries and left to themselves, not sent for export.
It should be mentioned that in the local cuisine they do not use a lot of spices and salt, and they do not recognize flavor enhancers at all, thanks to which all dishes have their own real taste.
Koks Restaurant Recently, international cuisine has become more widespread on the islands of the archipelago, which makes it difficult to find an institution where you can try local culinary delights. Although, in general, there are no difficulties with food in the capital: there are relatively many restaurants and cafes here. For example, in the restaurant "Koks Restaurant" dishes are prepared only from local products - obtained from the ocean or grown in agricultural land.
In the historical part of Tórshavn, there is a cozy fish restaurant “Barbara” stylized as a traditional Faroese house – there is always fresh food prepared from the fish caught that day. If the route runs through a sparsely populated part of the Faroe Islands, then it is better to take food with you, since shops usually work several hours a day, and there may not be a cafe at all.
Barbara If we talk about prices, then in the Faroe Islands they are higher than on the mainland, and tourists are unlikely to be able to save on anything, including food. Below are approximate prices:
- lunch in an inexpensive restaurant 13-17 €;
- 3-course meal for two in a mid-range restaurant 55-87 €;
- McMeal at McDonalds 11€, pizza slice at fast food 6-7€, burger from 3.6€;
- a cup of cappuccino 4-5 €;
- a glass of beer 6.0 €.
Weather conditions in the Faroe Islands
Although the Faroe Islands are located in the north, the local climate is quite mild due to the warm current of the Gulf Stream.
The average summer temperature stays at + 14º C, sometimes rising to +20º C. In winter, there are practically no frosts (the temperature ranges from 0º C to +4º C), but it is still very cold due to high humidity.
It rains very often in the Faroe Islands, about 280 days a year. The rainy season falls on the period from September to the end of January, and then the islands are covered for a long time by a cap of thick fog, which almost does not let the sun through. Cold sharp wind here almost never stops.
The Gulf Stream washing the Faroe archipelago does not allow coastal waters to freeze even in winter, maintaining their temperature unchanged throughout the year: +10 º C. Winter, when there are no tourists and the water is especially clear, is an ideal time for diving enthusiasts.
Visa Information
Since the Faroe Islands are not part of the Schengen area, a separate visa is required to visit them. In addition to the standard Danish Schengen visa, a national Danish visa is required to allow entry to the Faroe Islands.
It is quite easy to get such a visa. An application for it must be submitted to the Danish consulate. The set of documents required for this is identical to the set of documents required for obtaining a Schengen visa to Denmark.
If you have a valid Schengen visa from another country, you only need to apply for a national Danish visa allowing you to enter the Faroe Islands.
How to get to the Faroe Islands
There are two ways to get to the Faroe Islands.
Between the settlements of the Faroe Islands there is a well-established transport connection. The most popular local transport on the islands remains water - moving between the islands is possible by ferry. Underground tunnels are gradually replacing the old roads along mountain serpentines.
What to see on the island of Kos?The next travel recipe includes the Faroe Islands with their dizzying landscapes, cliffs, waterfalls and houses with grass roofs.
Why Faroe Islands?
Around 60 million years ago, extensive volcanic eruptions formed 18 rocky islands that floated peacefully in the North Atlantic Ocean between Scotland and Iceland. Now people live on all the islands, except for Small Dimun. They are also called "sheep islands", because it is much easier than people. This is also reflected in the statistics: the population is almost 50 thousand people against 80 thousand head of livestock.
Since most of the islands are covered with mountains, grassy hills and steep cliffs, hiking has long been the only way to get around here. For some time, the islands served as a transit point for Viking sea expeditions. Also, once the Faroe Islands were 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 German takeover of Denmark. The next year after the end of the war, the Faroe Islands were about to secede from the Kingdom of Denmark, but all they achieved was partial sovereignty. They have their own language, money, parliament and government. And there are many salmon farms in the Faroe Islands - now this is the main source of income.
The Faroe Islands are still less of a tourist destination, compared to the same Iceland. This is primarily due to a rather short season and a small number of regular flights. Faroe Islands is not about a comfortable stay and five-star hotels, this is a place where you can truly feel the unity with untouched wildlife. Steep cliffs, spectacular mountains leaning over the ocean, fjords and picturesque grass-roofed villages make up the spectacular landscape of the distant Faroe Islands.
"Steep cliffs, stunning mountains leaning over the ocean, fjords and picturesque grass-roofed villages"
How to get there and where to live?
The easiest way to get to the Faroe Islands from Europe is to fly to Copenhagen. Then there are two options: SAS (tickets from €148 round trip) or Atlantic Airways (from €400 round trip). Keep in mind that the demand for the destination is high and flights can be overcrowded, especially during the season.
An acceptable accommodation option in the Faroe Islands is small guesthouses, as well as apartments and rooms rented through Airbnb
or booking. The most popular among hotels is Føroyar. We lived there for a couple of days. The hotel was designed by the famous Danish architectural bureau Friis & Moltke and is located a couple of kilometers from the capital of the Faroe Islands. All rooms offer beautiful views of the Nolsoy Fjord and Tórshavn.
Streymoy Island
Acquaintance with the islands should start from the capital - the city Torshavn located on the island of Streymoy. In the city center, you can see two remarkable monuments of medieval architecture at once - the Munkastovan monastery and the royal warehouse of Leygubyun. The buildings date back to the 15th century; they miraculously survived a severe fire in 1693. The tiny peninsula of Tinganes, where Løgtingið- The Parliament of the Faroe Islands, and the old part of the city of Rhine with narrow streets and wooden houses covered with grass roofs, are mentioned in 825.
If you want to have a bite to eat in some cozy place, then go to a fish restaurant Barbara(2 Gongin, Torshavn 100) . This is a place stylized as a traditional Faroese house, the roof of which is made of straw. The dishes here are fresh, as they are prepared from fish caught on the same day. It is located in the historical part of Tórshavn and is part of a network of five restaurants and bars located in close proximity to each other.
You can try local beer at Essabarr (7 Áarvegur, Tórshavn 100) , and Danish craft - in Mikkeller Torshavn (2 Gongin, Torshavn 100) . But we found the best place in the capital by chance - this is a buffet restaurant Steikin (11 Tórsgøta Tórshavn 100) . Here you can order brisket, rib-eye, fried chicken and much more at an affordable price.
Next, go to the historical Kirkjubøur. Here is the oldest wooden house in the Faroe Islands - it is 900 years old. Other places of interest in the city are the Cathedral of Magnus, the church of St. Olav, the ruins of the church of St. Brendan and the Roikstovan farm. By the way, in Kirkyubar you can meet the current owner and caretaker of these buildings, who is a direct descendant of the caretaker of the Royal Compound in the 17th generation. His name is Johannes Patursson and he and his family live in one part of this oldest house.
If your budget allows, don't forget to visit the famous restaurant Koks(Frammi við Gjónna Leynavatn) , which received a Michelin star in 2017 and still maintains its high status. Koks is a Faroese word that has various interpretations, including a type of coal, as well as the concept of "being associated with the preparation of something significant." The restaurant with this name specializes in local cuisine, giving traditional dishes a modern twist.
On the island of Streymoy there is also a small but very picturesque village Saksun (Saksun). In its vicinity are lakes Pollur and Saksunarvatn, a snow-white church and the old farm Duvuvarur, which are now part of the museum. The ancient stone buildings with traditional turf roofs give a special entourage to this place. The village itself has a natural harbour, a small black sand beach and is surrounded by high mountains.
On the west coast of the island of Streymoy is a pretty port city. Vestmanna (Vestmanna). To the north of it is the Vestmannabjørgini coast, which is rocky cliffs and rocks up to 500 m high protruding from the water. The coast is known for its numerous colonies of birds and seals, which is why the area received the name “Vestmann bird cliffs”. Here you should definitely take a tour on a ship and see with your own eyes the stunning beauty of the gorges and grottoes under the harsh rocks hanging overhead. All this will definitely make your heart beat much faster.
Continuing the theme of rocks, it is worth mentioning a small Čednuvik village. It is located in a beautiful harbor, which is surrounded on all sides by mountain peaks. Here you can see another attraction of the Faroe archipelago - two sea cliffs, the name of which in translation into Russian sounds like "The Giant and the Sorceress".
Esturoy Island
In the northern part of the island of Eysturoy you will find an idyllic village Gjogv (Gjogv). It got its name from the gorge on the banks of which it is located. This place is very popular due to its scenery - the village is located on the edge of a vast valley that drops to the ocean and is surrounded by mountains. Panorama of the ocean and the island of Kyunoy, smooth green slopes and endless opportunities for hiking. We stayed here for the night in Gjaargardur Guesthouse and were able to enjoy this place to the fullest.
"Ocean panorama, smooth green slopes and endless opportunities for hiking"
A separate day should be allocated for the conquest of the most high mountain Faroe - Slattaratindur (Slættaratindur), whose height reaches 880 m above sea level. Climbing the mountain takes an average of 1.5-2 hours, but it all depends on your physical capabilities. From the top there is a stunning view of all 360 degrees, just keep your equipment: the stronger the wind is very strong there.
On the way back you can see the most big waterfall in the Faroe Islands Fossa. Here, however, it should immediately be noted that it can look completely different depending on the weather. The best time to visit is after heavy rains, when the waterfall absorbs spilled water from the surrounding slopes and gains real power. We were not lucky and the previous two sunny days did not play into our hands. You don’t need to go far, the waterfall is located right next to the road. It is two-level, and if you want to climb to the top, and I recommend doing this, you will have to climb a little on the rocks.
Vidoy Island
On the penultimate day we went to the island Vidoy (Viðoy), located in the northern part of the Faroe Islands and being their northernmost tip. The main attraction of this island is Cape Enniberg. This is the highest cape in Europe, and according to some sources in the world, which grows out of the water as a huge dark wall with rare greenish glimpses at a height of 750 meters.
On the way to the island of Vidoy, you can also see a catastrophically distant island Fugloy. It is the easternmost island in the Faroe Islands archipelago. "Bird Island" has earned its name for the multimillion-dollar seabird colonies on its majestic cliffs (450 meters at Eistfelli and 620 meters at Klubbin). The cliffs descend from the plateau of a picturesque mountain range, which is completely covered with arctic vegetation.
Unfortunately, we did not have time to see one of the most romantic places in the Faroe Islands - Lighthouse Kallur on the island of Kalsoy. You can only get there by ferry from the town of Klaksvík. There was no ferry service that day. But, as friends told us, the panorama that opens up on this landscape is especially priceless and worth a couple of hours of walking. This is the northernmost echo of civilization - a small lonely white lighthouse against the backdrop of emerald slopes and a high mountain peak.
Voar Island
We devoted the last day to the island of Vagar, where the only airport in the Faroe Islands is located - Vaga Floghavn. Worth seeing here lake Servagsvatn (Sørvagsvatn) And waterfall Besdalafossur (Bøsdalafossur). You can see the lake even during the landing, if the weather is good, of course. It is remarkable not only for its size, but also for its unique natural phenomenon, as it is located literally on the very edge of the island, and below is the ocean. The locals gave it another name - "hanging lake". And if you look at it from a certain side, it creates the illusion that the lake is hanging over the ocean surface.
The impressive Besdalafossur waterfall carries water from Lake Servagsvatn straight into the ocean. Despite its impressive size, Besdalafossur is a kind of local secret: to get there, you need to walk almost two and a half kilometers, and then back. The journey will take approximately two hours in total.
And finally, take a look at the village of Gasadalur which is located near the airport. It is located in an incredibly beautiful valley between the highest cliffs of the island. The rocks tightly surround the village, and in order to get to another part of the island, its inhabitants always had to use a path that rises up to 400 meters into the mountains. Due to this isolation and inaccessibility, the population of the village gradually decreased, and in 2002 there were only 16 inhabitants left in it. But in 2004, a car tunnel was made in the monolithic rock, and people began to gradually settle in this beautiful place again. It also offers panoramic views of Mykines Island. This island is known primarily for its large number of seabirds, especially puffins (but they can also be seen on the Westmann rocks), which arrive there in early May. In summer, there are two ways to get to Mykines: by ferry or by helicopter. In winter, when the waters of the Atlantic Ocean become turbulent, the ferry does not run at all.
The Faroe Islands are relatively small and located at the end of the world, but for the sake of local views, you want to drop everything and go there. The Faroese have a unique way of life and they carefully cherish their traditions. They manage to keep their feet firmly on the ground and maintain a close relationship with nature. They are incredibly kind and humble. Add the impressive Faroese cultural tradition to the scenery and locals and you have every reason to put the Faroe Islands on your must-see list.
life hacks
The Faroe Islands are hardly a spontaneous travel destination, so the sooner you start planning your trip, the better.
The Faroe Islands requires a separate visa, which is issued at the Danish Consulate. Documents and the procedure for registration are similar to Schengen. However, no one checked our visa either on the way there or back.
Faroe Islands- a group of 18 islands in the North Atlantic Ocean between Scotland (Great Britain), from which they are almost 400 km north, and Iceland, which is 420 km northwest of the Faroe Islands.
The Faroe Islands is an autonomous region of the Kingdom of Denmark. Since 1948, the islands have been independently managing almost all issues with the exception of defense and foreign policy.
The capital and main port of the islands is the city of Tórshavn, located on the southeast coast of the island of Streymoy.
The archipelago of the Faroe Islands consists of 18 islands, 17 of which are inhabited. Main islands: Streymoy, Esturoy, Suduroy, Vagar, Sandoy, Bordoy. The largest island is Streymoy (373.5 km²). The total area of all the islands is 1395.74 km².
The distance to Iceland is 450 km, to Norway - 675 km, to Copenhagen - 1117 km. The economic maritime zone from the coast of the Faroe Islands is 200 nautical miles.
The highest point of the islands is the peak of Slattaratindur on the island of Esturoy - 882 m above sea level. The Faroe Islands are dotted with numerous fjords and have a rugged coastline. The islands, for the most part, due to constant strong winds, are treeless, although there are plantings of strong conifers, maple and mountain ash.
Climate
The climate of the Faroe Islands is temperate maritime, with cool winters and cool, wet summers. The coldest month is January, the temperature is from 0°C to +4°C, the warmest month is July, the temperature is from +11°C to +17°C. Annual precipitation is 1600-2000 mm, precipitation (mostly in the form of rain) occurs approximately 280 days a year, most of it falls from September to January, fogs are frequent.
Thanks to the tropical Gulf Stream, the water around the islands has a temperature of about + 10 ° C all year round, which softens the climatic conditions and provides ideal conditions for the life of fish and plankton.
Last modified: 23.10.2009Population of the Faroe Islands
The population is 48,856 people (2009), of which: 91.7% are Faroese; 5.8% - Danes; 0.4% - Icelanders; 0.2% - Norwegians; 0.2% - Poles.
Age structure of the population: 0-14 years old: 21.6%; 15-64 years: 64%; 65 years and older: 14.4%.
The population of the Faroes professes mainly Lutheranism (80%). Lutheranism is a Protestant branch of Christianity.
The official language of the islands is Faroese (a modified version of the Old Norse language), almost all residents understand Danish, and English is widely spoken.
Currency
The official currency of the Faroe Islands is the Faroese krone. 1 Faroese krone is equal to 100 era. The Faroese krone is equivalent to the Danish krone, meaning it has the same exchange rate. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 1000, 500, 200, 100 and 50 kroons, coins in denominations of 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 kroons, 50 and 25 ore.
The islands' currency is issued by the National Bank of Denmark and is considered a variant of the Danish krone. Therefore, it does not have an official ISO code and is not convertible. In most cases, to avoid confusion, it is called the Danish krone (DKK), since the local currency is rigidly pegged to this particular unit. Formally, the Danish crowns themselves are not accepted in the Faroe Islands, only the local currency is used.
It is best to exchange currency at banks and exchange offices, commissions for exchange are small. Banks are open from Monday to Friday from 9:30 to 16:00, on Thursday - until 18:00, banks are closed on weekends.
You can exchange money in banks or at the exchange office of the Vaugar airport (open from 10.00 to 2.00). Usually, banks charge fairly small commissions for the exchange, but for the most part they work only with the euro and the Danish krone.
Credit cards of the world's leading systems (American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa) are widely accepted.
Traveler's checks can be cashed at many banks and hotels, or used to pay at most restaurants and shops.
Last modified: 23.10.2009Communication and communications
International code: +298.
Internet domain: .fo.
In case of emergency call - 112. Reference information - 118.
How to call
In order to call the Faroe Islands, you need to dial: 8 - beep - 10 - 298 - the number of the called subscriber (you do not need to dial the area code).
mobile connection
Officially, there are two mobile communication standards in the Faroe Islands - NMT (analogue) and GSM (digital). However, in recent years, GSM has practically replaced the analog standard, and now the coverage area covers almost the entire territory of the islands.
SIM cards from Faroese operators can be purchased at Teleshops kiosks, petrol stations, post offices, hotels and tourist offices.
Fixed line
The telephone system of the Faroe Islands is at a high level and provides a full range of modern services. Foroya Tele's (Faroese Telecom) public payphones, located in many public places, operate with both coins and credit cards.
Internet
Although the Faroe Islands are a major intermediate point for many telecommunications systems linking Europe and North America, the level of network services is relatively low. Only large business centers, hotels and post offices are provided with stable high-speed communication.
The public Internet cafe Telecentre (Teledepilin) can only be found in the capital (Niels Finsensgota, 10). However, it is also possible to take advantage of the numerous hotspots located at the tourist information offices.
shopping
Most shops open at 09:00 or 10:00 and stay open until 17:30. On Fridays, some close only at 19:00. On Saturdays, shops open at 09:00 and are open until 12:00, 14:00 or 16:00. On Sundays all shops are closed. Kiosks, shops at gas stations close at 23:00.
Travelers can receive a partial VAT refund (25%) when leaving the country. If any store displaying "Tax-free for Tourists" on display sells for more than US$48, a check must be taken for a refund of approximately 15% of the value of the goods at customs at the airport.
The price level on the islands is slightly higher than on the mainland and comparable to Norwegian ones, so traveling to the Faroe Islands cannot be called a cheap event.
Almost all manufactured goods are imported and therefore not cheap, but food (especially fish), wool and leather products, and some alcoholic beverages are quite inexpensive.
Fresh vegetables are available throughout the year, as many islanders get them from their gardens, and most of them also go to stores. The assortment of fruits is somewhat lower, but also meets all international standards.
There are enough shops in Torshavn, whose assortment differs little from the goods sold in some small town in Europe.
Last modified: 23.10.2009Where to stay
There is no "star" classification of hotels in the Faroe Islands, the following classification is used: "Deluxe", "Superior", "Standard", which approximately corresponds to the European classification of 5, 4 and 3-star hotels. A special classification was introduced due to the specificity of local hotels located on small islands with limited infrastructure, where accommodation is offered in bungalows or cottages no higher than 2 floors. When choosing, you should carefully read the specific list of services provided by a particular hotel.
Most local hotels are small private pensions, there are no super-expensive rooms at all, and you can always find accommodation at quite reasonable prices ($10-15 per night). Mid-level hotels charge $20-70 per day for their services, higher-class hotels - from $70 and more.
Sea and beaches
The Faroe Islands are best visited during the summer months when rainfall is unlikely and the weather is warm and comfortable.
On the coast at the foot of Mount Tindur there are beaches consisting of black basalt sands.
Excellent beaches of dark volcanic sand are also located near the town of Skalavig.
Last changes: 01.09.2010History of the Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands have been known to Irish monks since around 500. Between 700 and 800, immigrants from Scotland settled on the island, but left the islands at the beginning of the 9th century, when Viking campaigns reached the Faroe Islands. Since the 9th century, the Faroe Islands have become a link in the system of transport communications between Scandinavia and the Viking colonies, which were located on the territory of Iceland, Greenland and, for a short time, North America.
From the 11th century until 1380, the Faroe Islands were part of Norway, during this reign the local population converted to Christianity. When Norway entered into an alliance with Denmark, 2 powers began to manage the islands, and in 1814, after Norway left the union, Denmark became the sole owner of the islands.
The strategic position of the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic prompted British Prime Minister Winston Churchill on April 11, 1940 to decide to place the cruiser in the port of Tórshavn. The islands came under British military control in April 1940, during World War II, following the German invasion of Denmark. The British occupation of the islands ended in September 1945.
In September 1946, as a result of a closed plebiscite and vote, the Parliament of the Faroe Islands announced the withdrawal of the islands from Denmark. The decision was ratified by Parliament, which voted 12 in favor and 11 against. The island of Suduryo, the third largest in the entire group, has announced that it will remain part of Denmark. The Danish government declared the results of the plebiscite invalid and temporarily suspended the work of the Faroese parliament. Another public opinion poll revealed a slight preponderance of supporters of not secession from Denmark, and a parliamentary delegation was invited to Copenhagen for further negotiations.
In 1948, an agreement was reached under which the Faroe Islands received limited sovereignty, the foreign policy of the islands was still in charge of the Danish government. Two representatives of the islands are permanent members of the Danish parliament.
Since 1984, the Faroe Islands have been declared a nuclear-weapon-free zone by the Løgting, but a Danish naval base and a NATO radar complex are located on the islands.
Last changes: 28.04.2013It is absolutely unacceptable to bargain, and in any institution, regardless of size and form of ownership.
Alcoholic drinks are sold only to persons over 18 years of age. Light beer can be bought in shops, restaurants and cafes. Strong beer, wine and other types of alcohol can only be purchased in specialized stores in large towns (indicated by the Government Monopoly sign) and in licensed restaurants, cafes, nightclubs, etc.
Fishing is allowed only in some waters and only on the basis of a fishing license, which can be purchased at all tourist offices. All gear and equipment, including fishing rods, floats, fishing lines and lures, must be disinfected before arriving in the Faroe Islands (previously this parameter was carefully controlled at customs, now the Faroese leave this rule on the conscience of the tourist). Instructions and rules for fishing in local lakes (the islanders call them in the Scottish manner - "loch") are printed in all tourist booklets and brochures and must be strictly observed. The fishing season in streams and streams lasts from May 1 to August 31. Sea fishing is allowed all year round.
Divination in the footsteps of the Norns is common in the Faroe Islands. Norn marks are spots that appear on the nails. They are interpreted according to their shape, color and the place where they appeared.
These islands are also famous for their hand-knitted shawls made from the wool of local sheep. They have an unusual butterfly shape and, unlike other types of shawls and scarves, thanks to their design, they lie firmly on the shoulders, even if they are not tied.
Since the weather on the islands is very unpredictable, special requirements are placed on clothing. A waterproof and windproof jacket is a must here at any time of the year. It is also recommended to have a warm sweater and vest, a sturdy pair of boots with thick soles and good ankle support, light scarves, hats and gloves, especially when traveling to the sea (and it is everywhere here). Light boots or sports shoes for moving around populated areas will also be useful.
Sunglasses with glass filters should also be included in the mandatory kit, since the level of ultraviolet radiation is quite high here.
When moving around the islands, you should have a small backpack with a set of clothes and linen, a small supply of drinking water or a hot drink (coffee, tea, cocoa), as well as high-calorie foods (chocolate, dried fruits, etc.).
Be sure to take a detailed map of the area with you and inform the local tourist office about the route and the time of its passage. In case of frequent fogs here, you should not look for your own way - it is recommended to stop in the place where he found him and wait for help. Particular care must be taken when moving along the coastline and coastal cliffs.
Any journey longer than 3 km should only be undertaken with a local guide and communication equipment (cell phone or walkie-talkie). Also, GPS receivers will be quite useful - despite the small size of the islands, the terrain here is so complicated that it is simply impossible to orient yourself without knowing local signs.
A detailed booklet describing the most interesting routes can be purchased at any of the local tourist offices for 10 crowns.
Last changes: 20.01.2013How to get to the Faroe Islands
The easiest way to get from Moscow to the Faroe Islands is by SAS airline with a change in Copenhagen (Denmark). Aeroflot and SAS have daily flights from Moscow to Copenhagen (2 hours). SAS also flies six times a week from St. Petersburg (2 hours).
Island-based Atlantic Airways (part of SAS) flies from Iceland, Norway, Denmark and the UK to Vagar Airport in the Faroe Islands. The same directions are served by several other small companies.
Daily flights to the Faroe Islands are carried out only from Danish Copenhagen - usually 2-3 times a day, from other countries, flights are operated once every few days, and for the winter period they may stop altogether.
In addition to the plane, the islands can also be reached by the Smyril Line ferry. It runs once a week from Tórshavn to Huntsholm in Denmark, to the British Shetland Islands and to Seyðisfjordur in Iceland. In summer, he also comes to the Norwegian Bergen.
Last changes: 28.04.2013The Faroe Islands are considered part of Europe, but many don't even know exactly where they are. In Russia, the archipelago attracts attention on those rare occasions when the Russian national football team plays the Faroe Islands in World Cup or European qualifiers.
On the territory of the archipelago, consisting of 18 volcanic islands with a total area of about 1,400 square kilometers, 50 thousand people live today. The indigenous inhabitants of the island, about 98% of the population, speak one of the rarest languages in Europe - Faroese, related to Icelandic and Old Norse. The second official language in the Faroe Islands is Danish.
Until the end of the 19th century, sheep breeding, which gave the name to the islands, played a major role in the life of the Faroese, sheep wool was the main commodity in trade with Denmark. However, for more than a century, the main income for the inhabitants of the archipelago, located in the very center of the fish-rich region of the Atlantic, has been provided by fishing. Locally sourced cod, salmon and halibut account for over 99% of local exports.
This is not surprising if we remember that, according to the classic of Faroese literature, William Heineson, the capital of the Faroes, the city of Tórshavn, is, in fact, the famous “navel of the earth”. For the Faroese, Torshavn is one of the most important places on earth, the very place where everything happens.
45 thousand Faroese believe that the archipelago of 18 islands in the North Atlantic is the legendary Atlantis, which plunged into the depths of the ocean many centuries ago. There is exclusivity.
Ancient history of the Faroe Islands
Modern Faroese are the descendants of the Vikings, who at the end of the 9th century. they did not want to put up with the cruel rule of King Harald the Fair-Haired and sailed here, where before brave sailors were only on arrivals. In the 11th century Christianity was brought here from Norway and for a short period the islands were subordinated to the Norwegian king Olaf Tryggvason. After his death, Norway's power over the islands was purely nominal, and in 1380, when the Danish-Norwegian union was concluded, the islands passed into dual subordination. When Norway dissolved the union in 1814, the islands remained with Denmark, which became the sole owner of the islands. The inhabitants of the islands have Scandinavian roots, and the Faroese language is a descendant of the Old Norse language.
Between 700 and 800, immigrants from Scotland settled on the island, but left the islands at the beginning of the 9th century, when the Viking campaigns reached the Faroe Islands. Since the 9th century, the Faroe Islands have become a link in the system of transport communications between Scandinavia and the Viking colonies, which were located on the territory of Iceland, Greenland and, for a short time, North America.
Faroe Islands in World War II. British occupation of the Faroe Islands
The strategic position of the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic prompted British Prime Minister Winston Churchill on April 11, 1940 to decide to place the cruiser in the port of Tórshavn. The islands came under British military control in April 1940, during World War II, following the German invasion of Denmark. The British occupation of the islands ended in September 1945. More than 8,000 British soldiers participated in the occupation.
Post-war history of the Faroe Islands
In September 1946, as a result of a closed plebiscite and voting, the Parliament of the Faroe Islands announced the withdrawal of the islands from Denmark. The decision was ratified by Parliament, which voted 12 in favor and 11 against. Suduroy Island, the third largest in the entire group, has announced that it will remain part of Denmark. The Danish government declared the results of the plebiscite invalid and temporarily suspended the work of the Faroese parliament. Another public opinion poll revealed a slight preponderance of supporters of not secession from Denmark, and a parliamentary delegation was invited to Copenhagen for further negotiations.
In 1940 the Faroe Islands were occupied by the British fleet, in 1948 the status quo was restored. An agreement was reached under which the Faroe Islands received limited sovereignty, the foreign policy of the islands was still in charge of the Danish government. 2 representatives of the islands permanently work in the Danish Parliament. The Faroese, although they do not particularly feel the Danish "oppression", but do not let the metropolis forget about themselves. For example, formally the islands are not part of the European Union, having rejected this proposal in a referendum. National clothes and customs largely preserve the era of the sagas, when people believed in the harsh Odin, the strong Thor and the gentle Freya. Monuments here often belong to the early Middle Ages. Torshavn - in the capital of the Faroe Islands, it is worth taking a look at the Skansapakkusio building, the Munkastovan Monastery, the Historical Museum and the Listaskalin Art Gallery.
Kirkuber - among the attractions of this city stand out the Cathedral of Magnus, the Church of St. Olav, the ruins of the Church of St. Brendan and the Roykstovan farm. Saksun is a small village, in the vicinity of which there are lakes Pollur and Saksunarvatn, Saskun church and Duvuvarur farm.
Since 1984, the Faroe Islands have been declared a nuclear-weapon-free zone, but the Danish naval base and the NATO radar complex are located on the islands.
To enter the Faroe Islands, Russian citizens need a visa issued by the consular section of the Danish Embassy.
The Faroes are a beautiful and rich country, with its wonderful culture, in addition, people here are closely connected with each other, now family and friendships mean a lot to the Faroese.
The difference between Danish and Faroese society is not obvious at first, but it is there. So, for example, in Denmark, people first of all value their employment, it is customary there to first call, warning of their arrival, and even agree on the time of the visit. In the Faroe Islands, friends and acquaintances easily, without ceremony, drop in to see each other just to say hello. So I think the main difference is that the Faroese find time for each other in order to be together.
In the Scandinavian countries, there is a “Jante Loven Code”: no one has the right to put himself above society, the most important rule of the Code is “do not think that you are anything. And everyone obeys this unwritten rule, from the monarch to the mere mortal. This is also the case in the Faroe Islands. In this regard, things with public morality here are exactly the same as elsewhere in Scandinavia.
In late 2006, Faroese society was engulfed in debate over the rights of sexual minorities to be protected from persecution. Most local politicians spoke out against the adoption of the anti-discrimination law, considering it contrary to the Christian postulates on which the Faroese society is based. Another significant event last year in the life of the Faroese was that the local ethics council banned the screening of the famous film The Da Vinci Code, considering the interpretation of the role of Christ blasphemous and contrary to the canons of Christianity.
The Faroe Islands are very religious country, religious society. But it should be borne in mind that in all religions there are radical currents and there are such Christian extremists in the Faroe Islands. Of course, extremists are extremely negative about the law that protects people of non-traditional sexual orientation, but they do not express the opinion of the majority of the population of the Faroe Islands. In Denmark, by the way, there are also ultra-Orthodox Christians, united in the Inner Mission organization, they are very similar to the Orthodox from the Faroe Islands, but in both cases we are not talking about the majority of the population. In fact, the Faroe Islands is a very open society, it may seem closed, closed in on itself, but in fact it is not. The people here are very friendly, generous and hospitable. And foreigners arriving in the Faroe Islands as tourists or moving here for permanent residence can confirm that they are received very kindly here. After all, the Faroese are sympathetic to everything new that enters their lives.
The Faroe Islands (Faeroerne, Faroe Islands) is a Danish possession that occupies over 20 islands in the northeast of the Atlantic Ocean in the Norwegian Sea. The total area of ownership is 1.4 thousand sq. km. 48.2 thousand people live on the islands, mainly Faroese. They have their own language, which is the state language here along with Danish. The Faroe Islands have their own coat of arms and flag and enjoy internal autonomy, although they are subject to Denmark. The administrative center of the Faroe Islands is the city of Torshavn with a population of 15.6 thousand people. The islands are divided into 8 regions.
The Faroe Islands are of volcanic origin, up to 882 m high. The shores of the islands are heavily indented by fjords. The landscape of the Faroe Islands is characterized by meadows, peat bogs, heathlands. The Faroe cliffs are a favorite place for bird colonies.
The economic potential of the Faroe Islands is based on 260 fishing boats. The fishing industry employs most of the able-bodied Faroese. The second most important branch of the economy is animal husbandry, which specializes in raising sheep and producing milk. Local transportation is carried out by road and sea transport. The Faroe Islands are among the most prosperous countries in the world in terms of living standards, they are reluctant to accept visitors here, but tourists are treated with hospitality..
The name in the local dialect means "Sheep Islands". Sheep breeding is very important for local residents, and wonderful blankets, sweaters and other products are made from high-quality wool here. The tourist season falls on the warm summer months from June to September. The calendar of the Faroe Islands has about two dozen official holidays. On June 28 and 29, the country celebrates Olavsok National Day, named after Saint Olav, who preached Christianity in ancient Scandinavia. For two festive days in the capital of the Faroe Islands - Tórshavn - there are exhibitions, sports competitions, horse races, festive masses and noisy folklore performances. Around the same time, the Vestanstevna festival, which is almost identical in program, takes place in the Western Faroe Islands.
Mostly eco-tourists come here. Skalafjordur - a picturesque fjord, considered the best harbor of the Faroe Islands, will be of interest to lovers of hiking. Mykines is a tiny island in the northwest of the archipelago. Here are Knukur Peak, Stejiskogurin Rock Garden and Holmgyogv Canyon.
The islands, for the most part, are treeless due to constant strong winds, although sometimes there are conifers, maple, mountain ash. Mosses and lichens are widespread.
Vegetation is mainly represented by meadows, peat bogs and moorlands.
In the Faroe Islands, the climate is similar to the south South America and Tierra del Fuego, from there several species of notophagus (antarctic, birch) and maitenus magellan were introduced.
Hatchet(lat. Lunda cirrhata), or long-crested puffins (lat. Fratercula cirrhata) - a bird of the auk family. It has a bright appearance - a powerful, laterally flattened red-orange beak, white cheeks, and tufts of long yellowish feathers behind the eyes. The color of the plumage is monotonous, black-brown. Paws are red.
They live on the Asian and American coasts of the North Pacific, in the south to California. They are most often seen flying along the coastline close to the surface of the water in search of food for their young.
The fauna of the Faroe Islands is quite diverse. First of all, the colonies of arctic birds and rich in fish (herring, halibut, cod) and sea animals of the waters washing the Faroe Islands are of interest. The Faroese breed of sheep also lives on the island.
Colonies of guillemots settle on the Faroe rocks.
There are harp seal rookeries in the Faroe Islands.
In the Faroe Islands, the Faroese (FrK) and Danish krone (DKK) are in circulation. Faroese banknotes, as well as Danish ones, are issued in denominations of 50, 100, 500 and 1000 crowns. The islands do not mint their own coins. There are Danish coins in denominations of 25 and 50 øre (1 øre = 1/100 kroons), 1, 2, 5, 10 and 20 kroons.
The exchange rate of the Danish krone against the US dollar was - 5.560 (2008), 5.9468 (2006), 5.9969 (2005), 5.9911 (2004), 6.5877 (2003), 7.8947 (2002).
Up to 15% of Faroese GDP is subsidies from the metropolis.
The main sectors of the Faroese economy are fishing, sheep breeding, and light industry. The main exported products are fresh, frozen, filleted and salted fish, gelatin made from fish swim bladders, lamb, sheepskin, astrakhan and wool products, eiderdown and petrel down. About 2% of the land is cultivated.
Until the middle of the 19th century, sheep breeding was the main source of income for the Faroe Islands. Currently, the number of sheep has about 80 thousand heads.
Like these ones Interesting Facts writes Klara Kulikova about the Faroe Islands:
I have been to the Faroe Islands ten times, probably. I have many acquaintances there, whom I am glad to see, regardless of the presence or absence of a business. Acquaintances who, over the years of communication, have turned into friends.
I really like this place. First of all, I love my people. Contrary to the tantrums of whale advocates, the people there are very open, clean and in many ways virginal.
1. In the Faroe Islands, houses are not locked everywhere. The last time, instead of a hotel, we rented the top floor of the house: the owners lived on the basement floor, their daughter on the ground floor, we occupied the top floor with three bedrooms, a separate bathroom and toilet. "Will we get the key?" I asked the hostess. "Not!" - She was very surprised, why do you need him?
“You really don’t lock houses?” I asked my old friend Birgir. "Why lock them up?" - in turn, he was surprised, - "I have five children, they always lose their keys, so we do not lock our house!"
2. There is virtually no crime in the Faroe Islands. During the Cold War, the United States placed a military base on the islands. In recent years, it has been mothballed: only a few people were constantly there. Now, on the territory of the base, a prison is equipped, where local violators are placed for a short time: as a rule, for drunk driving. At the time of our arrival, there were already four people in the "prison", the names of all four are known to all the islands. If you leave your bicycle on the side of the road, no one will touch it. If you drop your wallet on the road, they will return it to you with a probability of 99.9%, or leave it at the nearest cafe / store / shopping center.
3. On the issue of whaling: the Faroese continue to live the same way they lived five hundred years ago. Civilization has changed them little. In addition to hunting whales, the Faroese slaughter sheep with their own hands (many people keep sheep). It's hard for a European to believe it, but Faroese schools hold very shocking science lessons.
A week before our arrival, the twelve-year-old daughter of Birgir brought a live sheep to the classroom, killed it right in the classroom with a special pneumatic pistol, and gutted it in the classroom. The rest of the children helped her to the best of their ability: in the Faroe Islands, this does not shock anyone.
"But why, Birgir?" I asked in bewilderment. "What do you mean why? Not all children now know how to do it, she just taught them!”
4. Sheep's head is a delicacy in the Faroe Islands. “But what is in it?” I asked another friend of mine. "Like what? Eyes, brains, cheeks! Yes all!"
Frozen sheep's heads can be bought at Torshavn's central supermarket (called SMS) as well as in some small shops. For convenience, the head is cut lengthwise, frozen and packed in a vacuum bag.
5. Much to my surprise, the Faroe Islands have a pretty good selection of products (unlike “hungry” Norway, in whose supermarkets you want to cry). Most of the food is frozen (and made in Denmark), but it's there. On sale there is a delicious venison, a lot of seafood, as well as fresh local fish. Smoked salmon is also locally produced and is also absolutely incomparable: I can say with full responsibility that neither in Ukraine nor in Russia they know how to make such fish.
6. The Faroe Islands (unlike Denmark, to which the Faroe Islands de jure belong) have very strict requirements for the sale of alcohol. There is only one store in Torshavn that sells beer of a “regular” strength, as well as wine and vodka. Everything is very expensive. For an inexplicable reason, beer is only sold in multiples of six. That is, six, twelve, eighteen and so on cans or bottles. The restriction applies both to packages (in which there are actually six cans or bottles) and to individual cans / bottles.
The question “and if there are only five bottles left, will you not sell them?” introduces store employees into a concrete stupor. It seems like no one thinks about it.
All other stores (including the largest supermarket in the Faroe Islands) sell light beer with an alcohol content of no more than 0.2% &
A similar situation with alcohol in the Faroe Islands was initiated back in the thirties of the last century. Alcohol was sold uncontrollably, many fishermen became drunkards, but in the thirties, men inadvertently gave women the right to vote in elections.
The first (!) thing women did when they got the rights was to push through the ban on the sale of alcohol on the islands. Complete ban.
The men tried to protest, but it was too late: the fishermen tightly took their husbands by the balls.
The return of alcohol to some kind of sale lasted for decades. And it continues to this day.
7. At the same time, a very good and very specific aqua vit is produced in the Faroe Islands, which is called HAVIÐ, with a strength of as much as 50.1 degrees. Such a fortress is the result of a marketing strategy, the essence of which is unknown to me.
8. Also, contrary to prohibitions and restrictions, very good beer is produced in the Faroe Islands, and the Black Sheep variety is generally beyond praise.
9. One of my acquaintances in the Faroe Islands created an ideal business: he collected waste from fish processing plants (mainly saithe heads), then dried them, pressed them and sold them to poor countries in Africa. Why the perfect business? The raw materials are free, the market is huge, the idea is super, what can I say.
10. The Danish krone is used in the Faroes, but the piquancy of the situation is that the Faroes have their own Danish krone, with a very special design. From my own experience I can say that I have never held a more beautiful money in my hands.
Tindholmur Island- one of the islands of the Faroe archipelago. Area — 6500 sq.m. Highest point– 262 m. Each of the smaller peaks has its own name: Ytsti, Arni, Lítli, Breiði, and Bogdi.
The island is uninhabited, but archaeologists say that people once lived on it.
Every year, the inhabitants of the Faroe Islands catch and kill whales and pilot whales (black dolphins) during a traditional hunt known as "Grindadrap". The sea in the Faroe Islands becomes as bloody and creepy as the cruel rite itself.
Faroese men often say that participating in whaling makes them feel like real Faroese. Despite criticism from animal rights groups and the International Whaling Commission, the people of the Faroe Islands continue to kill thousands of whales year after year.
A mob of hunters herd the whales and dolphins into the bay and then sever their spines, leaving the animals to slowly bleed to death. According to PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), some whales struggle in agony for several hours. “Whales and dolphins are very intelligent creatures, and they are able to feel pain and fear, just like us. They are forced to watch their relatives die in water red with blood, in anticipation of their own death.
Hundreds of pilot whales or black dolphins, as they are sometimes called, become victims of the Faroese every year. I don’t even know what definition to give to this bloody process ... Some say, they say, killing whales for the population of the Faroe Islands - a national pastime, others - a tradition, others - a vital necessity. I, perhaps, will dwell on the tradition - do not judge, as they say, but you will not be judged. This event is on a national scale. On a certain day, I don’t know which one, apparently, when the meat supplies run out, Faroese men slaughter pilot whales, and women and children gather on the shore with pleasure and look at this picture. In short, the entire population is involved - no one is indifferent.
Whaling has existed on the "remains of Atlantis" since at least the tenth century, and it is not regulated by the International Commission for Whaling, but by the Faroese authorities, due - to quote Wikipedia - "there are disagreements about the competence of the commission in relation to small cetaceans." How to put it simply, I don’t know, because I myself didn’t really understand the meaning. It turns out that the traditional, having a long history pilot whale slaughter in the Faroe Islands gradually developed into a kind of public holiday. At least, according to eyewitness accounts, this is exactly what it looks like.
I don't know how to judge all this. On the one hand, it’s scary, creepy, disgusting, low and vile, but on the other, somewhere in Africa there are probably tribes in which people devour each other, but no one condemns them: well, there is, and there is, what can you do, if they have a way of life.
Here is what eyewitnesses write:
Killing whales is a national pastime
In order to feel like men and earners, the Faroese organized a mass slaughter of whales. The whole population took part in this. Men catch, while women and children watch and support.
Unfortunately, this cruel tradition has survived to this day. But now whale hunting has become something of a national holiday on the islands. Not for food, but for blood, greed and the satisfaction of their barbaric instincts.
They hunt here for pilot whales or, as they are also called, black dolphins. Grinds swim in a flock that blindly follows the leader. One has only to lure him alone, as all the others will follow him to certain death. Whales are driven into shallow water in special bays. Surrounded by boats and driven to the shore with stones, sticks, harpoons.
The first time I learned about this "holiday" shortly after my arrival in the Faroe Islands. Once I came to pick up my children from the kindergarten and saw the excited faces of the teachers. Happiness and satisfaction were written on them. Excitedly gesticulating, they said that today they went to watch how dolphins were slaughtered and took all the children there. They all really enjoyed it, and the children are absolutely delighted.
After that, the children in the kindergarten spent the whole week drawing pictures about how dolphins are slaughtered, how they are pulled out, killed, and pools of blood. The scarier the picture, the more honorable it was on the wall. The exhibition of children's works hung for a long time and frightened with all its appearance.
My children have received deep psychological stress. They grew up one day and realized that death exists and walks nearby in the form of a Faroese with a harpoon and a spear.
No one asked permission if it was possible to lead children to look at this horror. They were just taken away - because it's cool. Because many Faroese sincerely believe that slaughtering whales is one of the most beautiful sights. And in the future, children were taken to this slaughterhouse more than once, although they were warned that they should not be taken there. But the teachers forgot everything at the moment of excitement from the upcoming action.
Through the eyes of an eyewitness
I know of no more barbaric spectacle that takes place with the approval of the government and with the participation of almost all people, young and old. This is real horror.
As soon as a flock of whales approaches the island, the Faroese drop everything and run to fish. People learn by radio, by mobile phones and just from each other - whales are being beaten today.
They run as fast as they can, just to be in time, just not to be late. They run with crazy eyes. Everyone runs, even pregnant women and young mothers who grab their children, put them in strollers and also rush to the shore. Other children dangle under their feet, they are knocked down, now it’s not up to the children - the whales are beaten. Kindergartens and schools are brought there so that everyone participates in the process and looks at the bloody mess. How innocent animals are killed.
Just a couple of hours ago, kind and sweet Faroese become wild animals. They make sure that the whales cannot leave the shallow water. With wild faces they throw stones at them, hit them with spears and knock them into a chaotic mass. Wounded animals become insane and rush about in search of freedom. People rush to them from the shore and finish them right in the water. Hooks and sticks are stuck into still living whales and dragged to the shore, where their throats are cut.
Women and children support men, run through pools of blood. Everything is covered in blood. The Blood Sea is completely red. The entire coast is covered with the blood of innocent victims of Faroese cruelty. Faces, hands, clothes of people - everything is covered in blood. Satisfaction on the faces, smiles, joy, pleasure, buzz - all this gamut of feelings is read on all faces.
Thirst for blood plus thirst for freebies. After all the whales are dead, the cutting of prey begins right on the shore. Children are very often involved in the process. They are allowed to mess with the intestines and entrails. Shops in the Faroe Islands are littered with various types of meat, but whale meat is not sold there. Because it's given away in this slaughterhouse for free. On a special website, lists of those who wish are pre-created. Why go to the store and pay money when you can get meat and so on and even satisfy your barbaric instincts.
At the moment, there is no need to kill whales. Faroese do not die of hunger. The supply of food to the islands is well established, but, as the Faroese themselves explain, this is their sport. Yes, that's exactly what they call this nightmare with pride and approval.
Pictures of the killing of whales are placed in newspapers, in tourist brochures, devoting entire spreads to this and publishing the most horrific scenes. Video films are made about the killing of whales and then they are watched with pleasure on long winter evenings, eating at the same time whale meat and lard. There is no regret, only delight that everything will happen again soon.
I would like to mention that this is not the only murder in which children are involved in the Faroe Islands. Sheep farming is very common on the islands, and the slaughter of sheep is a family holiday in which all family members also participate. In front of the children, the sheep is slaughtered and butchered, and the children then mess around in the guts with a smile on their face. Shoot video and photos of the process. For a long time, a book with a detailed photo report about this was very popular in the Faroe Islands. It happens that in kindergartens they arrange something similar. Probably so that those children whose parents do not have sheep do not feel deprived. They bring a sheep or some kind of sea animal to the kindergarten and butcher them together with the children. Children are handed out trophies - intestines and so on. Once on the embankment, the sailors set up a small open aquarium. Various marine animals swam in containers filled with water - crabs, starfish, fish, octopuses and others. They could be taken out and touched. Some children watched the animals with interest, while others simply took them and ripped off their limbs, rejoicing at how they writhe and try to escape. Parents looked at their children with approval and smiles, without making any remarks to them and fully supporting these tortures. My children clung to me in horror and asked: “Mom, is it really possible?” Why don't parents tell their children not to torture animals? What could they say to that?
Dolphins have long been considered the patrons of shipping and sailors. All sailors know the sign - before a storm, dolphins try to go to the depths and not appear on the surface, which the sailors regard as a warning of an impending storm.
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Why such unthinkable inquisitorial cruelty towards these creatures among the inhabitants of the Faroe Islands?
In fairness, it must be said that in the modern world, not everyone shares a romantic point of view on dolphins, considering them dangerous wild animals.
However, the final point in the research of dolphins has not yet been set, and no matter what conclusion the scientists come to, a person has no right to the bloody barbarism taking place in the Faroe Islands.
Many centuries ago, during the time of the Vikings, the ancestors of the islanders lived in completely different conditions and other customs - these were cruel times of wars, deprivation, lack of food, and the terrible custom that arose in those days may have been a forced way for their survival.
But now, in modern conditions, with supermarkets littered with food, this barbaric "diet" of the Faroese is blasphemous.
"Real Faroese" should remember that "cruelty cannot be a companion of valor" (Cervantes).
As the descendants of the brave Normans, the Faroese do not need to assert themselves through the massacre of defenseless animals, a much more courageous act would be to decide to stop this massacre as historically obsolete and immoral. What do you think?