Geography and Natural Resources

 

The Faroe Islands consist of 18 mountainous islands located between the North Atlantic Ocean and the Norwegian Sea, about halfway between Scotland and Iceland. Their total land area is 1,399 square kilometers and the population is 50,000. The closest neighbors are the Northern and Western Isles of Scotland. The Faroe Islands are rugged and rocky with the coasts mostly cliffs, providing good nesting facilities for many seabirds.

 

The Faroe Islands utilize their natural resources to sustain their economy. Fishing and renewable energy are both vital to their economy. Mountain grazing sheep provide up to 60% of all locally produced meat as well as wool. They have enough dairy cattle to provide milk for the Faroese needs. Many families raise potato crops for their own use. The Faroese people have a high degree of self-sufficiency in local food production.

 

There is plenty of renewable energy in the Faroe Islands. Hydropower, wind and tidal power are all sources of power. The Faroes are one of the leading nations in the world utilizing sustainable production of energy with 45% coming from renewable energy sources.