Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands
- Capital
- Tórshavn
- Population
- 48,865
- Region
- Europe
- Languages
- Faroese
This territory is famous for its unique traditional sheep-counting system and the fact that there are more sheep inhabiting the islands than humans. To map the remote terrain for the internet, locals famously attached 360-degree cameras to sheep to create their own version of street view. This project successfully convinced major tech companies to eventually visit and officially document the rugged archipelago.
Currency
The official currency is the Faroese króna, which shares a fixed exchange rate with the Danish krone and uses the ISO code DKK. During World War II, when the islands were under British administration, local banknotes were issued because of the occupation of Denmark, leading to the distinct legal status of the currency today.
Flag symbolism
Known as the Merkið, the flag features an off-center Nordic cross that signifies the territory's cultural links to the rest of Scandinavia. The white background represents the foam of the sea and the pure, clear sky above the islands. The red and blue colors are traditional to Faroese dress and are also intended to honor the territory's historical ties to Iceland and Norway.
Emblem history
The national coat of arms, known as the Veðrur, features a silver ram on a blue shield in a design that dates back to the 15th century. The ram is a direct reference to the territory's name, which translates from Old Norse as Sheep Islands. While it fell out of official use for centuries, the emblem was formally revived in 2004 to represent the local government and its historical identity.