Faroe is an island group of 18 islands north of Scotland and between Norway and Iceland in the North Atlantic Ocean. Composed of volcanic rocks the islands are covered only with a thin layer of moraine or peat soil.

The climate is oceanic with mild winters and cool summers. Mostly overcast or foggy.

Statistics

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

• 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 or or agreed boundaries or median line
• Exclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles or agreed boundaries or median line
• Territorial sea: 3 nautical miles

Climate

Temperate; moderated by North Atlantic Current; mild, windy winters; cool summers, damp in the South and West. Arctic climate 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 oil 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.

See also

• List of islands of the Faroe Islands

Weblinks

• http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/fo.html

References

• "Faroe Islands" Britannica CD, Version 99 © 1994-1999. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
• "Faroe Islands" World Fact Book 2004, CIA, Washington.

Subcategories

G

• Geography of Faroe

S

• Faroe geography stubs

Articles in category "Geography of Faroe"