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Geography of Faroe Islands

Location:Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about one-half of the way from Iceland to Norway
Geographic coordinates:62 00 N, 7 00 W
Map references:Europe
Area:total: 1,399 sq km
land: 1,399 sq km
water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams)
Area - comparative:eight times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:1,117 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 3 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
exclusive fishing zone: 200 nm or agreed boundaries or median line
Climate:mild winters, cool summers; usually overcast; foggy, windy
Terrain:rugged, rocky, some low peaks; cliffs along most of coast
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m
highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m
Natural resources:fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas
Land use:arable land: 2.14%
permanent crops: 0%
other: 97.86% (2005)
Irrigated land:0 sq km
Natural hazards:NA
Environment - current issues:NA
Environment - international agreements:party to: Marine Dumping -associate member to the London Convention and Ship Pollution
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

Faroe Islands Quickstats

  • Population: 47,511 (July 2007 est.)
  • Area: 1,399 sq km
  • Density: 34 /km² (169th)
  • GDP (total): $1.0 billion (not ranked)
  • GDP (per capita): $22,000 (2001 estimate) (not ranked)
  • Literacy:

Languages of Faroe Islands

Useful to know

  • Currency: Faroese króna² (DKK)
  • Dial code: +298

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