FAROE (fa'rei or fa'ro-c) ISLANDS (Dan. Fitroerne). A group of islands, twenty-one in num ber, of which only seventeen are inhabited, belong ing to Denmark, and lying nearly midway between the Shetlands and Zeeland, extending from lati tude 61° 25' to 62° 25'N., and from longitude 0° 20' to 7° 40' W. (Map: Denmark, A 1). The prin cipal island. Strilmo (capital. Thorsbavn), is 27 miles long and 8 miles broad ; those next in importance are Osterii, Vangli, Bord6, Videro, Sandi), and Suderii. Their entire area is 514 square miles, They are mostly of volcanic rocks, with basaltic formations covered with a thin vegetable soil, which yields pasturage for the cattle and numerous sheep which are reared on the islands. The highest point does not exceed 3000 feet, and there is a lack of streams, but small fresh-water lakes are numerous. The coasts, which are steep and lofty, are broken by deep inlets, and in the adjacent waters are whirlpools and currents, which render nav igation perilous. The hurricanes which prevail prevent the growth of trees and hinder Hu. cultivation of most of the ordinary vegeta bles and cereals; but the climate is so modified by oceanic influences that, notwithstanding the high latitude, snow rarely lies long on the ground, and the cattle can pass the greater part of the year in the open air. The rainfall is excessive,
amounting to about 70 inches during the year. Coal and peat are found, and there are also traces of iron, copper, and chalcedony. The chief sources of wealth are in flocks of sheep and in the multitudes of sea-fowl which frequent the rocks. The islanders show great skill in climb ing the dangerous cliffs in search of birds, and they are also expert in fishing. Their exports are tallow, train-oil, feathers, skins, wool, fish, and butter. The people are of Norse descent— a vigorous, laborious, loyal, and religious race, belonging to the Lutheran Church. They are governed by a Lagthing consisting of eighteen members elected for four years, and presided over by a Danis]) Governor. The group is represented in the Danish Parliament by two representatives selected by the people—one directly and the other through the local Government. The islands, which were colonized by the Norwegians in the ninth century, were held by Norway individu ally until the latter part of the fourteenth cen tury, when they were shared with Denmark, which became sole possessor in 1814. The lan guage of the people is only a slightly modified form of the old Norse. Population, about 13,000. Consult Jeaffreson, The Faroe Islands (New York, 1901).