THE FAROE ISLANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14391, 9 June 1910, Page 5

THE FAROE ISLANDS.

GERMANY MAKING A SURVEY. By Telegraph.Press Association.—Copyrigßt. • ■■■■'■ '■■'■-' ' :: ■'■' ' London, June 7. A German squadron jis % extensively' surveying the Faroe Islands, } particularly Vestmanhaon.' , The survey' has caused great anxiety among the inhabitants. The Faroe Islands, 22 in number, of '. which 17 are inhabited;: lie between the Shetlands and Iceland, 200 *. miles northwest of ; the former, and have an area of 513 square miles and .a: population ■ of about 17,000. Seaward; they present : precipitous cliffs, 1000 to 2300 ft high, while inland ; they rise into f flat-topped ' V pyramidal mountains, ■ which attain ■•■■■ 2502 ft \in Strom bo : and 2895 ft in Ostero. The currents running through - the. sounds are swift and dangerous, storms and whirlwinds are ] frequent, and • the harbours i and bays are not> very secure. On the other hand, the anchorages are % nearly always free of ice. The inhabitants, of Norse' descent, are. Lutherans;: and have since 1854 eni-iypd ' n certain amount* of self-govern- ,..,» • •''rom the time of their first colon-b<-;h'jV in the ninth century the islands be--1......v -ft). Norway down £to 1380, in which" ve»i 'they passed to Denmark. ■:■■■■.•, //.■•