The Big Picture - Faroe Islands
The islands were shaped by volcanic activity 50-60 million years ago. The original plateau has been restructured by the glaciers of the ice age, and the landscape eroded into an archipelago characterised by tall mountains, steep cliffs, deep valleys and narrow fjords.
The islands are rugged and rocky, with Slættaratindur as the highest mountain, 882 metres above sea level. The coasts are mostly cliffs, many places towering 3-400 metres over the sea and providing good nesting facilities for legions of seabirds. The highest cliff, Enniberg, rises about 700 metres directly up above the ocean.
The language of the Faroe Islands is Faroese. It is a Nordic language, which derives from the language of the Norsemen, who settled in the islands some 1200 years ago. The name Føroyar (Faroe Islands) is derived from old Norse and means Sheep Islands, a name given by the Viking age settlers.
Fishing has been the main source of income for the Faroe Islands since the late 19th century and the Faroese are a significant actor in the global seafood market.
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