Faroe Islands Geography
LocationNorthern 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
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% (2001)
Irrigated land
0 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards
NA
Environment - current issues
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
