Animals of the Faroe Islands
2024-06-05
A history of the Faroe Islands in a nutshell
2024-06-19
The Faroe Islands are not just about grass....
Although the Faroe Islands may appear to be a barren archipelago, covered only in grass, it is a habitat for more than 400 plant species. The vast majority of the Faroe Islands is covered by grasses and flowery meadows, and some is heathland. There are no naturally occurring forests in the archipelago, although finds dating back to 2300 BC suggest the presence of birch and hazel.
The oceanic climate of the Faroe Islands, together with the air carrying large quantities of salt, is not favourable to plants. For most of the year, the landscape is dominated by grasses, but during the short growing season between May and August, the Faroese meadows become colourful, with yellow flowers dominating alongside the green of the grasses.
At the end of May, the Faroese national flower, the marsh marigolds, bloom. Their large yellow blossoms decorate the meadows and around the numerous streams. In summer, the buttercups bloom, covering the Faroese valleys with a yellow carpet, as well as the roofs of some houses. In Gjógv, by the famous crevice, we find velvetleaf, which decorates the cliff with shades of orange. In Gásadaluri, not only will we encounter angelica (the Farers make jam from it).
In home gardens, you will usually find rhubarb - a Faroese rarity - potatoes, turnips and kohlrabi. Lettuce, among other things, is also grown on Sandoy. When visiting the Faroe Islands, be sure to try the local rhubarb jam, preferably accompanied by waffles and hot coffee.
The Farers compensate for the lack of natural stands of trees by creating mini-forests and parks. The largest wooded areas can be found in Tórshavn, Klaksvík, Kunoy, Trongisvágur or Selatrað. Among the interesting species we can admire are Araucaria, Embothrium, Chilean Beech, Dune Pine, Sitka Spruce, California Poplar or Green Alder. Interestingly, mushrooms - buttermilk, boletus or bay boletus - can be found in the wooded areas.
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