Geography

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The Faroe Islands are located in the North Atlantic, almost midway between Norway, Iceland and Scotland. The 62°N parallel passes through the capital Tórshavn.

The 18 islands are separated by narrow sounds and fjords. The total area is 1,399 square kilometres, extending 118 kilometres North-South and 79 kilometres East-West. The Faroese landscape is shaped by volcanic rocks and erosion processes which have taken place since the volcanoes ceased being active 50-60 million years ago.

Erosion by the waves of the sea has mainly worn away the westerly coasts, which today are characterised by high promontories, in some places colonised by vast flocks of birds. Along the protected parts of the fjords the mountains, mainly formed by soft moraine stemming from the ice age, slope gently towards the coast and this is where most of the old settlements are located.

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Faroe Islands Tourism