Home > Factbook > Countries > Faroe Islands
Location | Northern Europe, island group between the Norwegian Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, about halfway between Iceland and Norway |
Geographic coordinates | 62 00 N, 7 00 W |
Map references | Europe |
Area | total: 1,393 sq km land: 1,393 sq km water: 0 sq km (some lakes and streams) |
Area - comparative | eight times the size of Washington, DC |
Land boundaries | total: 0 km |
Coastline | 1,117 km |
Maritime claims | territorial sea: 12 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 | highest point: Slaettaratindur 882 m lowest point: Atlantic Ocean 0 m |
Natural resources | fish, whales, hydropower, possible oil and gas |
Land use | agricultural land: 2.1% (2018 est.) arable land: 2.1% (2018 est.) permanent crops: 0% (2018 est.) permanent pasture: 0% (2018 est.) forest: 0.1% (2018 est.) other: 97.8% (2018 est.) |
Total renewable water resources | 0 cubic meters (2017 est.) |
Natural hazards | strong winds and heavy rains can occur throughout the year |
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 |
Source: CIA World Factbook
This page was last updated on September 18, 2021