Geography of the Faroe Islands

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

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

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

Natural resources include fish, whales and hydropower.

[edit] Statistics

Location

Northern Europe, island group between Norway and Iceland in Atlantic Ocean, north of the United Kingdom.

Geographic coordinates

• 62°00′N 06°47′W
• North: Enniberg, 62°29′,2 N
• South: Sumbiarsteinur, 61°21′,6 N
• West: Gáadrangur, 7°40′,1 W
• East: Stapi, 6°21′,5 W

Map references

Europe

Area

• Total: 1,399 km²
• Land: 1,399 km²
• Water: 0 km² (some lakes and streams)

Area--comparative

Eight times the size of Washington, DC

Land boundaries

0 km

Coastline

1,117 km

Maritime claims

• Continental shelf: 200 nautical miles (370 km) or agreed boundaries or median line
• Exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles (370 km) or agreed boundaries or median line
• Territorial sea: 12 nautical miles

Climate

Subarctic oceanic climate (Koppen climate classification Cfc) moderated by North Atlantic Current; long, mild, windy winters; short, cool summers, damp in the South and West. Arctic climate (Koppen climate classification ET) in some mountains.

Terrain

Rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast. The coasts are deeply indented with fjords, and the narrow passages between islands are agitated by strong tidal currents.

Elevation extremes

• Lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
• Highest point: Slættaratindur 882 m

Natural resources

Fish, Whales, hydropower, possible petroleum and gas.

Land use

• Arable land: 2.14%
• Permanent crops: 0%
• Other: 97.86% (2001 est.)

Irrigated land

0 km²

Natural hazards

NA

Environment--current issues

NA

Environment--international agreements

NA

Geography--note

Archipelago of 17 inhabited islands and one uninhabited island, and a few uninhabited islets; strategically located along important sea lanes in northeastern Atlantic; precipitous terrain limits habitation to small coastal lowlands.

[edit] See also

• List of islands of the Faroe Islands
• Maps of the Faroe Islands
• List of mountains of the Faroe Islands

[edit] References

• "Faroe Islands" World Fact Book 2004, CIA, Washington.