Colorful and Picturesque Villages of Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands is a group of 18 islands in the middle of
the North Atlantic Ocean, northwest of Scotland and halfway between
Iceland and Norway. The Islands have a population of nearly 50,000 and a
language and culture of their own. The Faroe Islands are undeniably
beautiful: green, rugged and wind-swept. The countryside is dominated by
steep mountains, vertical sea cliffs and picturesque valleys. During
summer, the Faroe Islands turn extraordinarily green and this is usually
the best time to visit.
There are over a hundred villages in
the Faroe Islands. Nearly every single one of them is situated near the
ocean, and to new visitors they may all seem to be very much alike. The
houses are either painted in bright colours or the traditional black,
whilst the roofs are often turf covered. The buildings are usually built
very close to each other, which is very cosy. In most places sheep
occupy the outfield throughout the whole year.
Although the
history of the Faroe Islands dates back to the 6th century, towns didn’t
start to appear until very late. For instance, the capital, Tórshavn,
only counted about 100 inhabitants in 1900, whereas today the number has
escalated into nearly 20,000. In the Faroe Islands the traditional
village was to a certain extent self-sufficient. When the fishing
industry took off in 1872, it was the beginning of the end for the
traditional way of life in the small villages as fishing replaced
farming and the growing population chose to settle in the fast growing
towns instead.
The Faroe Islands' primary industry is the fishing industry and the islands have one of the smallest independent economic entities in the world. The fishing industry accounts for over 80% of the total export value of goods, which are mainly processed fish products and fish farming. Tourism is the second largest industry, followed by woolen and other manufactured products.
Klaksvík
is the second largest town of the Faroe Islands. It has an important
harbour with fishing industry and a modern fishing fleet
Klaksvik
Klaksvik
Eiði is a large village located on the north-west tip of Eysturoy, Faroe Islands
Eiði.
Eiði.
Porkeri
is a village in the Faroe Islands, situated northeast of Vágur on
Suðuroy's east coast. As of 2008 it had a population of 362, and it has
been inhabited at least as early as the 14th century
Porkeri
Funningur
is located on the north-west coast of Eysturoy. About 70 people live in
Funningur on both sides of a cascading stream in a compact cluster of
houses around a small bay
Funningur,
Bøur
is a small village on the west-side of Vágoy on the north side of
Sørvágsfjørður, Faroe Islands. It has a magnificent view over the sea
and the rocky islet Tindhólmur with its many peaks, Gáshólmur and the
two "drangar", (tall, pointed clifftops sticking up from the sea). This
motif is famous on many paintings and photographs
Tórshavn
is the capital and largest town of the Faroe Islands. The Vikings
established their parliament on the Tinganes peninsula in 850 CE, thus
Tórshavn was made capital of Faroe Islands and has remained so ever
since. The town has grown rapidly ever since the turn of the 20th
century into the undisputed administrative, economic and cultural center
of the Faroes
Tórshavn.
Gjógv
is a village located on the northeast tip of the island of Eysturoy, in
the Faroe Islands and 63 km (39 mi) north by road from the capital of
Tórshavn. The village was named after a 200-metre (650 ft) long
sea-filled gorge that runs north to the sea from the village
Gjógv
Kirkjubøur is the southernmost village on Streymoy, Faroe Islands and the country's most important historical site
Vágur
meaning Bay is a town and an important port on the island of Suðuroy,
part of the Faroe Islands and an important port. It is situated on the
east coast of the island on the Vágsfjørður fjord, and was founded in
the fourteenth century
Vágur
Vágur
The
town of Sandavágur lies on the south coast of the Faroese island of
Vágar, and has been voted the most well-kept village in the Faroes
twice. The name Sandavágur means sandy creek and refers to the beach
down by the inlet