FAROE ISLANDS

also spelled Faeroe Islands, Faroese Froyar, Danish Faererne, group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean between Iceland and the Shetland Islands. They form a self-governing region within the kingdom of Denmark. There are 17 inhabited islands and many islets and reefs, with a total area of 540 square miles (1,399 square km). The main islands are Streym (Streymoy), Eystur (Eysturoy), Vgar, Sudhur (Sudhuroy), Sand (Sandoy), Bordh (Bordhoy), and Svn (Svnoy). The capital is Trshavn (Thorshavn) on Streym Island.